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by Rev. Fr. K. K. John
Gospel:
St. Luke 10 : 1 - 16: The Seventy sent out
The gist of the reading can be summarized as under: Jesus
appointed and sent seventy others two by two to every city. He
said, harvest is great but the laborers are few. Pray to the
Lord of harvest for more laborers. They are like sheep in the
midst of wolves. They should not carry money or spare sandals.
They should not greet anyone on the road. Stay where they first
enter in a city. Give peace to the house. If there is none
worthy the peace will return. Eat what they give. Heal the sick.
Tell them, the kingdom is at hand. There will be judgment, worse
than that of Sodom, to those who reject them. Woe unto Chorazin
and Bethsaida for, despite seeing mighty works they did not
repent. Capernaum will be brought down. He who receives them
receives Jesus and God.
Only Luke reports this incident. Some interpret that Jesus had
sent twelve disciples before, which is reported in Mathew
10:1-15 and hence, ‘Seventy others.’ Many similarities regarding
purpose and instructions are found but both are different
missions. Syrian tradition says 72, not 70. Verses 57 to 60 of
chapter 9 indicate that Jesus already sent two and hence the
use, “seventy others” and in that light the Syrian tradition
seems credible. 72 would coincide with equal representation to
twelve tribes. We remember 72 evangelists on July 5.
Number seventy also bears some importance. Whether or not the
ancient people believed in numerology, Bible ascribes prominence
to certain numbers. Some commentators suggest that seventy is
often associated with the idea of God administering the world.
Seventy descendants of Noah populated world after great deluge,
Gen 10. Seventy persons migrated Egypt, Gen 46:27. Moses
appointed seventy elders to help him, Num 11:16. Judah’s
descendants lived seventy years in the Babylonian captivity, Je
25:11. Messianic redemption is in seventy weeks, Dan 9:24. Jesus
said to forgive, seventy times seven, Mt 18:22. Probably, Luke
suggests that the seventy elders of the Old Testament were
shadow of which the seventy evangelists are the fulfillment.
Greek Church remembers 70 evangelists on January 4.
Most of them, Barnabas, Titus, Cleopas, Ananias, are familiar to
us and mentioned in the Acts and epistles. Apostle Paul credits
them as, “fellow laborers.” They are apostles, though not the
twelve apostles. Most of them succeeded the twelve and became
bishops in the early Church. It will be laborious task to
discuss the acts of the Seventy. However pertinently, they were
all, honest and trustworthy to their calling, witnessed the
risen Lord, spread the gospel and planted the Church in various
centers. I would discuss a few thoughts based on the gospel
reading.
1, Lord appointed and sent them: This aspect of mission is
totally ignored and misused. Present miserable plight is,
“Valedukunnavanellam velichappadu!” People who can fluently
read, write and speak feel the urge to interpret as they like
and introduce new dogmas. They establish groups with agreeing
followers. They make tall claims such as, ‘God appeared,
revealed, God commissioned me, Had a vision, Holy Spirit
prompted me,’ etc. They manipulate the Bible, make distorted
versions of the Bible to substantiate and advise the followers
not to read anything but their own version. They go to the
extend of saying their writings are better than the Holy Bible.
Unstable and untaught fall easy victims to their evil designs.
Risen Lord appeared to Paul and commissioned him and yet he
spent three years of intense meditation in Arabia. Went and
lived 15 days with Peter and acquainted with James, Gal 1:17-19.
Before commencing his ministry the apostles imposed their hands
on him, prayed and sent him, AA 13:2-3. Thus confidently he
asked, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not
believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how
shall they preach unless they are sent? Rom 10:14-15. Lord’s
appointment namely, apostolic succession, continues to this day
in the Church by election and imposition of hands by the bishop.
Right lineage traceable up-to the apostles and profession of the
apostolic doctrine undefiled is necessary mark of the genuine
Church outside of which there is no salvation.
2, Our Lord has assured good harvest. These words greatly
encouraged the evangelists. They ought to be optimistic,
energetic about their mission and relentlessly pray for its
success.
3, Lord compared the evangelists to sheep and the worldly
people to wolves. Sheep is sacrificial animal. Sheep symbolizes
meekness and gentleness. Lord expects His laborers to be meek
and humble, prepared to face difficulties from unfriendly world
and yet gently demonstrate the mind of Christ. Sheep is known
for its innocence, a necessary quality for missionary. They are
to be wise like serpents and innocent like doves, Mat 10:16.
Serpents are famous for protecting its head in times imminent
betides by curling its body and hiding its head beneath. Dove
got this credit from the time of Noah. Noah sent a dove to check
out if the waters receded. Dove returned with a branch of olive
thus faithfully fulfilling its mission, Gen 8:11. Serpent’s
wisdom is necessary to protect life because humanity under sin
is opprobrious and hence cruel. Innocence of the dove is
necessary because missionary is not expected to retaliate
tit-for-tat but be patient and harmless to evil perpetrators.
This verse warns of the hazards ahead and the need to keep
focused.
4, Verse 4, missionary ought not to be overly concerned about
things of the flesh. He should have thorough faith that God will
provide what is necessary for sustenance and not seek too much
personal comfort. He should not gossip, which would be dishonor
to fellow-beings and God. Priority be given to mission and no
other matter should displace the urgency of the gospel.
5, Verse 5 warrants courteous attitude. Satan is in endless
rebellion with God. Sinner is under his scepter. Rebellious
people are not at peace within themselves. Missionary’s peaceful
approach might change the rebellious. Peace is essential for
furtherance of gospel. A priest offers peace to the congregation
many times during the Anaphora. Unfortunately, seldom people get
the benefit of peace, even to the extent to doubt if it were
empty words. Why is it so?
6, Verse 6 answers the question in the previous verse.
Recipients’ attitude is important to receive peace, which is
offered. The problem is, people put blame for their failings on
others but seldom evaluate themselves. They have too many
complaints about the shortfalls in the Church, the priests, the
society and everything but never find their own pitfalls. Jesus
said, ‘brother, first remove the plank in your eye and then it
is easy to remove the speck in the neighbor’s eye.’
7, Missionary should not be too picky about hospitality,
neither become burden to the host by demanding choice foods but
satisfied with what they offer, if not, he is doing a disservice
to the gospel. One who gives priority to stomach shall not be an
effective evangelist. A glutton would never be a good
missionary. Gluttony is a deadly sin, which all of us should
shun.
8, God’s messenger is appointed and empowered to heal the sick.
It is an integral part of Christian ministry. Orthodox Church
holds the view that sin is the basic reason for sickness and
afflictions. Therefore Orthodox aims at eradicating sickness by
eradicating sinful life. Unless man decides to free himself from
the fatal-grip of sin by abdicating acts of sin nothing could
help. Recently in SGOS digest, one member lamented, ‘these days
church has lost healing power. What we hear in the church is
only lip service,’ etc. Admittedly he is partially right. But
can we ignore one’s responsibility to self-examine, renounce
sinful ways and lead others to Christ? Every Christian is a
missionary. We have too many religious leaders and social
reformers who earnestly advise and look for others to improve
envisioning a better society. The dichotomy is self-evident that
no society will ever improve unless the process of improvement
begins within oneself, not in others. Readiness of the member to
receive the gift of healing or divine peace, which are offered
free from the altar of God, not by the personal merits of the
priest, but by the power vested in him through ordination, is
unalterable condition. Because of economic self-sufficiency,
celebrations like birthday, anniversary, betrothal, marriage,
house blessing, etc are common these days. Liquor, destroyer of
family, harmony and dignity, is an indispensable item in our
festivities as if a status symbol! Most people get drunk even
before the function. Most deplorable plight is; priests are
invited to speak and bless the alcohol-saturated festivities.
Most parties are conducted on Saturdays and extend to late
hours. What would be the level of spiritual preparedness of the
same people who attend the holy liturgy next day? Faith,
physical and mental purity and readiness to receive healing is
imperative. “He could not do mighty work there except that He
laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.” Jesus
marveled at the unbelief of the people, Mk 6:5-6. There are
numerous instances of healing in the church but I dare not now
for fear of length.
9, Next verses deal with the judgment that awaits those who
reject the gospel. It would be a day of glory to those who live
a life of rectitude and a terrible day to those who reject the
gospel.
See Also:
Sermons and Bible Commentaries for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost
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