Reading 1
Is 66:10-14c
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her,
all you who love her;
exult, exult with her,
all you who were mourning over her!
Oh, that you may suck fully
of the milk of her comfort,
that you may nurse with delight
at her abundant breasts!
For thus says the LORD:
Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms,
and fondled in her lap;
as a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.
When you see this, your heart shall rejoice
and your bodies flourish like the grass;
the LORD's power shall be known to his servants.
Reading 2
Gal 6:14-18
Brothers and sisters:
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.
For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,
but only a new creation.
Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule
and to the Israel of God.
From now on, let no one make troubles for me;
for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
brothers and sisters. Amen.
Gospel
Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace to this household.'
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.'
Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."
The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
"Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name."
Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Meditation: Galatians 6:14-18
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Galatians 6:14)
Why would Paul “boast” in the cross? Isn’t it wrong to brag—especially if it’s about something you didn’t do in the first place? These would be good questions if Paul really were “boasting” in this way. Actually, the Greek word that we translate as “boast” (kauchaomai) can also be understood to mean “rejoicing in.” And that’s what Paul meant here. He made it clear that he was rejoicing only in the cross and not in his own accomplishments or abilities. Why? Because it was by the power of the cross that he became a new creation, set free from the grip of sin and death (Galatians 6:15).
How freeing is this message for all of us! We don’t have to spend our lives trying to measure up to impossible standards. We don’t have to keep trying to make ourselves good enough for God to accept us. He has already forgiven us. He has already taken our old, fallen lives and crucified them with his Son. And even more amazing, he has filled us with his Holy Spirit, making us a vessel of his very own divine life and love!
Today, think about all that God has done for you through the cross of Jesus. Celebrate the fact that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you are a new creation. Sin has lost its power. Death has been destroyed. The gates of heaven are open wide. Nothing can separate you now from the love of God!
At Mass today, feel free to enjoy the Eucharist. Don’t worry about the areas of your life that still need to be changed. They’ll be there waiting for you after Mass. Instead, let the Bread of Life remind you of everything Jesus has done for you. Then in your prayer, go ahead and boast in the cross of Christ. Boast in his kindness and love. Make this a day filled with great rejoicing.
“Jesus, all praise and glory are yours! You have made me a new creation, and I rejoice in you!”
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Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
(Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66:1-7,16,20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20)
1. In the first reading, Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s relationship with us in very personal and intimate terms, e.g., he tells us that He will comfort us “as a mother comforts her child.” How do you relate to the Lord? If someone were to ask you: “Do you know about the Lord or do you know him personally, how would you answer?”
2. The responsorial psalm invites us to “come and see the works of God.” How can you use prayer, the Eucharist, others, and nature to do that? The psalmist goes on to say, “I will declare what he has done for me.” What blessings have you received from the Lord in your life?
3. The second reading reminds us that the only thing that really matters in this world and, therefore, the only thing we should boast of is “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Have you ever “boasted” to anyone of what Christ has done for you? Who are the family members, neighbors, or fellow workers who could benefit from hearing the good news of Christ? Why is sharing how the Lord has changed your life, as your faith in him has grown, an effective way of sharing the Gospel with others.
4. In the Gospel, Jesus sends out his followers to announce that the kingdom of God is at hand because the harvest is abundant. Do you view members of your family (or others with whom you associate) with a faith and confidence that they are potential recipients of Christ’s love? Are their people you write off as hopeless or too hard-hearted? How might you use the Gospel reading to change how you see others?
5. What are some of the many graces and blessings, listed in the meditation, that are ours through the cross of Jesus Christ? What has been your own experience of these graces and blessings?
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