Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C (2025)
Sunday, July 6, 2025
We know some things about the twelve chosen by Jesus to be His apostles, including Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after his death. Their names are mentioned in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, as well as in the Acts of the Apostles. We have some details of the circumstances of their calling by Jesus and their journey with Him during His three-year ministry and through His Ascension. Distinct from the twelve apostles, today’s Gospel reading tells us about seventy-two more, or seventy, according to some manuscripts, whom Jesus appointed not long after the beginning of His ministry to also be His disciples. Jesus chose them and sent them ahead of Him, two by two, to every place where He was about to go. People in villages, small towns, and hamlets where those disciples were sent might have heard stories or rumors about Christ, but now they would hear about Him directly from those who knew Him. The reading mentions a few instructions Jesus gave them for their missions, as well as the power and authority He granted them to heal the sick and drive out demons. The reading also tells us that the seventy-two returned rejoicing, suggesting that they successfully fulfilled their missions and that Jesus assured them that their names are written in heaven. However, not much else is known of the seventy-two. There is no record of their names, the circumstances around how Jesus chose each, nor how they were trained and prepared for their missions! So, what was their mission and the message they took to the people in the towns? It was, “Cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.” —Luke 10:9. “The kingdom of God is at hand” was written twice in three verses in today’s Gospel reading.
When we think of the message “the Kingdom of God is at hand” or “the Kingdom of God is near,” the words “at hand” and “near” can refer to the proximity of time, indicating something that is approaching, soon, or imminent. But “at hand” and “near” can also mean something other than proximity of time; they could mean proximity of a place. They could mean close by, near us, or all around us. Not something that is far away or out of reach! The Kingdom of God is here, all around us.
If Jesus were to call you today to join the ranks of the seventy-two, would you respond with a heartfelt, “Here I am, Lord”? You are in church every week, listening to homilies, reflecting on Scripture passages, partaking in the Holy Eucharist, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. You are more than equipped to carry the Gospel message to the world, perhaps even more than you realize. Let us consider how our behavior, standards, attitudes, joyfulness, and treatment of others reveal our Christian beliefs. Do they convey the radiant truth that the Kingdom of God is indeed among us? St. Francis of Assisi reminds us, “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” Let us, therefore, live lives that embody the Gospel, so that every action and every step proclaims the Good News and the love of God.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.