After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum,will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’ The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’Luke 10:1-17
When I worked in a daycare while in college my kids wanted me to read some books over and over again. They were two and three year olds. Being read to over and over again is their thing. Chanting along with favorite lines in a book is their thing too. A favorite book was called "Marvin K. Mooney". They would shout along with me, "Marvin K. Mooney I don't care how, Marvin K. Mooney will you please go now!" The book was about being sent - no matter the method, Marvin was to go. I often think about this book and those children, all grown with children of their own, when I think about being sent out as disciples. One way or another we have to go...being sent means stepping out and trusting God's grace, whatever the road.
The disciples are being sent out and they are understanding the power and protection that goes with them, despite the challenges and the rough terrain of the journey. Jesus offers them strength and power, along with challenging them to be open to everyone on the road. The ministry, the work of disciples God all along the way.
Today, as we travel to be with our new granddaughter, I want to remember that every road is a missionary road and every travel moment is an opportunity to grow and trust. May we all take every day as a day sent - a day to offer God's love and compassion on the way.
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