Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and
Doctor of the Church
(Job 19:21-27; Luke 10:1-12)
The sending in today’s gospel is so similar to other apostolic
sendings that its uniqueness may be overlooked.
Not only are “seventy-two other disciples” being missioned to towns and
villages, but also they go there ahead of Jesus. The Lord will soon arrive in these places which
his disciples are to visit. He will
bring the Kingdom of God to all who welcome him.
Perhaps the meaning of Jesus’ ominous statement, “’…it will
be more tolerable for Sodom on that day …’”, pertains to missing Jesus. It may seem as if Jesus were referring to a
punishment worse than Sodom’s being pelted by fiery sulfur. But it could mean that intentionally missing the
experience of knowing Jesus will cause more misery than that suffered by the people
in Sodom’s burning. After all, Jesus is the
fullness of joy and peace that every heart desires. Deliberately missing him should make one
despair.
We should not want to miss any opportunity to know him. He comes to us in the breaking of the bread
at Mass. He comes in sharing a cup of
coffee with the besieged. He comes to us
in dying after having lived unselfish love for everyone.
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