Is 66:10-14c
Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
Gal 6:14-18
Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
The Scriptures we hear this Sunday remind us that proclaiming the Good News - the message of hope, love, and justice at the heart of Christianity - is not the exclusive job of pastors or missionaries. Rather, it’s a calling entrusted to every baptized Christian, no matter where we find ourselves in life.
In the First Reading, Isaiah imagines Jerusalem as a city overflowing with joy—a symbol of a Church that comforts and nurtures her children like a loving mother. We, too, are invited to live out of that deep assurance: that God is always faithful, always present, bringing comfort and healing even in the most difficult times.
In the Second Reading, Paul boldly says it is not our background, traditions, or inherited status that saves us, but the transformative power of Jesus’ self-giving love on the cross. Paul invites us to become “new creations” and to embody this newness not just in words, but through lives marked by compassion, humility, and generous service to others.
The Gospel from Luke tells of Jesus sending out seventy-two disciples, ordinary people, to prepare the way for him. His instructions might sound radical in our fast-paced, material centered world: travel light, depend on the kindness of strangers, focus on healing and sharing the hope of God's kingdom. It’s a challenge to step out of our comfort zones, to trust more in God than in our own resources, and to witness to our faith not by imposing but by serving, listening, and loving.
Today, as followers of Christ in a world that’s increasingly skeptical of religion and divided by fear, we’re invited to make the message of Jesus real and relevant - wherever we are. Whether at work, at home, online, or among friends, we have daily opportunities to be “missionaries” - by showing kindness, speaking up for justice, forgiving generously, and resisting cynicism.
Jesus entrusts each of us with a unique mission. Our challenge is not just to talk about faith, but to live it with authenticity and courage. Let’s not overlook the simple but powerful chances we have every day to share the Gospel: a listening ear, a word of encouragement, a helping hand, or an act of forgiveness. In all these ways, we become living signs of God’s love—inviting others to discover the profound peace and joy that faith brings.