The disciples at Pentecost (detail) mosaic provided by Centro Aletti (Church of St. Clare at the French College in Rome, 2004)
Luke 10.1 - 12.17-20: [1] After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them two by two ahead of him in every town and place he intended to visit. [2] He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send workers for his harvest. [3] Go here I am sending you like lambs among wolves; [4] Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the road. [5] Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this house. [6] If there is a man of peace, your peace shall rest upon him, or come back to you. [7] remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they have, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. [8] When you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is put before you, [9] heal the sick that are therein, and say to them is very near to you the kingdom of God [10] But when go into a town and do not receive you, go into its streets and say, [11] Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you, but know that the kingdom of God is near. [12] I tell you that on that day will be treated less harshly than Sodom, that city. [13] Woe to you, Chorazin, woe to you, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been made the miracles done in you, they would have repented long ago and put on sackcloth and covering of ash. [14] Therefore, in the opinion Tyre and Sidon will be treated less harshly than you. [15] And thou, Capernaum, will be exalted to heaven? Shall be flung into hell up! [16] He who hears you hears me, who disprezza voi disprezza me. E chi disprezza me disprezza colui che mi ha mandato». [17]I settantadue tornarono pieni di gioia dicendo: «Signore, anche i demòni si sottomettono a noi nel tuo nome». [18]Egli disse: «Io vedevo satana cadere dal cielo come la folgore. [19]Ecco, io vi ho dato il potere di camminare sopra i serpenti e gli scorpioni e sopra ogni potenza del nemico; nulla vi potrà danneggiare. [20]Non rallegratevi però perché i demòni si sottomettono a voi; rallegratevi piuttosto che i vostri nomi sono scritti nei cieli».
Cari amici e care amiche,
a quali fatti allude l’inizio del brano evangelico (Lc 10,1-12.17-20), proposto dalla liturgia domenica prossima (XIVa del Tempo Ordinario, 8 luglio 2007)? Gesù S’era incamminato verso Gerusalemme (“decisamente”, Lc 9,51) e alcuni, col desiderio esplicito di seguirLo (9,57-62), L’avevano avvicinato. Pertanto, “dopo questi fatti il Signore designò altri settantadue discepoli”. Così, ai Dodci e ai primi discepoli, molti altri s’aggregano.
Se i Dodici testimoniano un’immagine iniziale della prima comunità cristiana, questi Settantadue discepoli dilatano le sue dimensioni nel tempo e nello spazio. Inviati in coppia a motivo di un aiuto reciproco, rendono comunque più solida la loro testimonianza al Vangelo di Gesù: “li sent out two by two ahead of him (in front of his face). " Is cited as the moment when Jesus "hardened his face to go to Jerusalem" (9.51). With the clear commitment to go "in every town and place he intended to go." If the "city" allows the meeting and report, in a "place" people live. It was there that Jesus wants to go with his word of salvation.
For them draw some tips: "He said to them." Directions given on different occasions, but then gathered in a sort of 'manual of the disciple'. With a premise: "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. " E 'decisive, in fact, to evangelize having a sense of proportion between the quantitative abundance of the "harvest" and him who governs ("Owner"). So much so that the first collaboration request is not in the 'doing', but nell''invocare '. Disciple is not primarily one who does something in relation to the masses, but always knows how to look to Him who created it and its so popular: "Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest." Only after you can leave for the mission: "Go here I am sending you like lambs among wolves." After having abandoned the "Lord of the harvest" just as Jesus was constantly left to the will of His Father, at the announcement is that the disciples are identified by their teacher, the 'Lamb of God ", which is eaten at Easter. The wolf, always hungry for sheep and lambs, will always be lurking in the era of the Church of His disciples. Only at the end of time, wolf and lamb feed together (Is 11.6).
It then goes on to some more practical guidance. First there is a demand that, because of its simplicity and sobriety, clearly shows him that you are announcing: "Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the way." This is why Jesus says to Martha, but by looking to Mary, that "one is required" (Luke 10.41), as well as the rich young ruler: "one thing you're missing! 'Go, sell everything you have "(Mark 10:21). His love for it to be "thrown" (Mk 10,50) even the cloak that collects and contains the latest safety devices.
Then you must enter the homes and cities. First of all in the house, where people eat and loves: "Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house'. If there is a man of peace, your peace shall rest upon him, or come back to you. " Just as the Risen Lord to His will say, intimacy the Upper Room: "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19). Knowing that, a guest in a house is good to be the habits of the place, "Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they have, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. " Already understood the importance of their 'place' in which believers will come together later to remember Him
But he can not ignore a single bond with the city. He himself, in fact, "he went through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God" (Lk 8:1). Back it the desire to be accepted and heard, talking Him: "No. When you enter a city and will welcome you." The Gospel, in fact, calls for an unconditional listening, so that we can proceed without measure, according to the abundance of the heart that just loves to "eat what you will be put forward. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'approaches the Kingdom of God'. "
The possibility of rejection, however, remains: "But whenever you enter a city and do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you, but you know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you that on that day Sodom will be treated less harshly than the city. " And where the waste is dull and without appeal, even Jesus does not allow indecision and ambiguity (Luke 10.12-15).
The return from the mission is cheerful and festive, "the seventy returned with joy." Just as a saying of Jesus: "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Because "even the demons submit to us in your name." In His name, in fact, you win and still get (Jn 14:14). A joy that Jesus had planned: "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over strength of the enemy: and nothing will harm you, "and to be connected to a reward states:" Do not rejoice because the demons submit to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven. "
If "the demons submit to us in your name", in the name of him "who comes from heaven" (Jn 6:32), now the names of his are not only written in the book of life of human history, but "in heaven", that is the very heart of His Father. In fact, the life of one who realizes announced, already "hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3).
The announcement of the Lord Jesus that comes the celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday is already full of the promise of a full and final communion with Him
you all wish you a good Sunday in His name.
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