Scripture Scribbles: July 3, 2022

the Gospel

Luke 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."

the devotion

“I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” As we deepen our commitment to Christ, becoming a disciple who lives the Gospel daily, often feels like a being lamb among wolves.

There are many attitudes in our society that can discourage us from following Him into the unknown possibilities of our Faith.

Jesus tells the disciples to bring nothing with them so they may trust in Him to provide what they need from the generosity of others. Not having familiar comforts allowed for a conversion of surrender. In the name of Peace, they were to enter into homes to promote the Kingdom of peace, love, and justice - not judgment, division, and injustice. Further in the Gospel, the disciples are given the grace to cure, drive out demons, and perform miracles, in Jesus’ name, much to their surprise and delight!

How much do I trust Jesus? Enough to allow others to provide for me in times of need? Enough to take a deep dive into my Faith and allow Him to send me places I am terrified to go to build His Kingdom?

Most of the time my answer is “no” and “not yet.” The yearning in my heart to surrender as the disciples do in this Gospel remains though, if I only have the courage to ask for this grace. I hear them rejoice with such fervor and desire this for myself.

So I sit and ponder these questions: What comforts do you need to surrender so you can truly commit to the call of discipleship? What “wolves” of the world are you afraid to encounter as you live the Faith? Are you willing to place complete trust in the Lord to provide for you on the journey?

Grant me courage, Lord, so I can say “yes” to you today.

Today’s devotion was written by Diana Giard