Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Liturgical readings

Isaiah 66:10-14c
Psalm 66
Galatians 6:14-18
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

"Your names are inscribed in heaven".

The Jerusalem Bible subtitles the gospel for July 4 "The mission of the seventy-two disciples". This is the first part of Sunday's gospel passage. The second part is subtitled in the Jerusalem Bible as "True cause for the apostles to rejoice". The theme for the first part of Sunday's gospel is mission. Here, Jesus gives various instructions to seventy-two disciples how they are to conduct themselves among the people. In the second part of the gospel, Jesus emphasizes to His disciples the true source of success in missionary life: "your names are written in heaven".

Following Jesus means joining Him in His mission to build the Church. We need not go too far back in history for good role models of Christian missionaries. Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary, is one example. Brother Roger of Taizé, France, is another. Here is a list of names and one or two of them you know for sure: Jéan Vanier, Dorothy Day, Teresa of Calcutta, Fulton Sheen, Elizabeth Leseur, Edith Stein, Matthew Talbot, Henri Nouwen...

In our generation, it is John Paul II who influenced many to a spirit of mission and holiness. This spirit has its source in Christ Himself. It is by our relationship with Jesus that produces in us a response to share the Good News of His Word to others. The stronger our relationship with God, the stronger our message will be; the deeper our relationship with God, the deeper our message will be to others. Our response to God to build His Church depends on our fidelity to listen to Him, as He is regularly given to us through the celebration of the Eucharist.

Points for reflection: In the home and in the workplace, how faithfully are we following Christ? What small step can we take so that our direction is to obtain the reward Jesus promises in eternal life: "your names are inscribed in heaven".