Sunday Sermon – 06 July 2025 -14th Sunday
in Ordinary Time (C)
Mass Readings: Is 66:10-14c Ps 66 Gal
6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12. 17-20
Key Verse to Meditate: 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 (Lk 10:1).
Introduction
My dear
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
On this Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinar y Time, the
Church invites us to reflect deeply on the mission of the disciple and the
meaning of Christian life. The first reading is taken from the third part of
the book of Isaiah—commonly referred to as Trito-Isaiah (chapters 56–66). This
section is distinctly different in tone, vocabulary, and outlook from
Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40–55), as it is set not in Babylon but in Jerusalem
and Judah, and addresses the post-exilic period of restoration (cf. Is 60:1–7,
10–14).
In the second reading, from the concluding section
of St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (6:14–18), Paul underscores the
centrality of the Cross in the Christian Gospel. At the same time, he
emphasizes the necessity of a genuine Christian lifestyle, encouraging
believers to express their faith concretely in their daily lives. The passage
calls us to self-examination—what kind of Gospel do we proclaim, and what kind
of life do we live?
In the Gospel, we hear of the Lord sending out the
seventy disciples to go ahead of Him and prepare the way. Upon their return,
they are filled with joy at the power they witnessed through His name. Yet
Jesus redirects their joy—not toward their accomplishments, but toward the
deeper reality: their names are written in heaven. This is the joy of being
chosen and known by God.
The First
Reading – Rejoice, for the Lord Comforts His People
The poetic canticle from Isaiah portrays a vision
of divine restoration and peace, emphasizing God's mighty and consoling
presence among the nations (cf. Is 40:5; 44:23; 60:3; 62:2). Chapters 60–62
focus on the return from the diaspora. Earlier promises were made to all
Israel, but now the focus shifts to a faithful remnant, with inclusion even for
Gentiles. The Temple becomes a renewed centre of devotion (cf. Is 66:1–3).
The people, once in crisis and despair, are now
invited to rejoice as God’s restoration unfolds. The Lord promises, “Behold,
I will extend peace to her like a river” (Is 66:12)—a peace far richer than
the mere absence of conflict. In our own time, filled with war and unrest, this
message becomes a powerful source of hope.
God uses maternal imagery to describe His comfort: “As
one whom a mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Is 66:13). This evokes
a nurturing, intimate love, as Jerusalem once again becomes a place of joy,
life, and divine presence. The faithful are invited to witness and rejoice in
what God is doing—to see, feel, and flourish in God’s mighty work.
The Second Reading – The Centrality of the Cross in Christian Life
St. Paul, writing to the Galatians, reminds us that
Christian discipleship is not a matter of boasting in human achievement. While
the Corinthians once boasted of spiritual accomplishments (2 Cor 11:21b–29),
Paul insists that true glory lies in weakness and suffering endured for Christ
(2 Cor 11:30). His only boast is the Cross of Christ, by which the world has
been crucified to him, and he to the world (Gal 6:14).
For Paul, the Cross is not merely a symbol of
suffering but the very center of the Christian proclamation—the “kerygma”
itself (cf. 1 Cor 1:23; 15:3; Phil 2:8; Col 1:20). It is through the Cross that
redemption has come. As such, Paul insists that we no longer evaluate Christ—or
others—according to worldly or fleshly standards (cf. 2 Cor 5:16).
To live according to the flesh is to be distracted
from righteousness and the life of the Spirit. Paul calls believers to boast in
what truly matters: being a new creation in Christ (Gal 6:15).
"I
Bear on My Body the Marks of Jesus"
Paul ends his letter with a personal testament. He
declares that he bears on his body the “brand-marks” of Jesus (Gal 6:17)—the
scars and sufferings he endured for the Gospel. This affirms his identity as an
apostle and as one wholly consecrated to Christ. He is under the Lord’s
ownership and protection.
Interestingly, Paul refers to the Gentile
Christians as “the Israel of God,” highlighting the continuity and spiritual
fulfilment of God’s covenant. The Church, as the new Israel, is called to live
by the Spirit, in holiness, and in authentic faith.
Paul's final benediction is filled with peace and
mercy—not only for those who follow the rule of the new creation in Christ but
also for devout Jews still on the journey toward the Gospel.
The
Gospel Reading
In today’s Gospel, we witness Jesus sending out
seventy of His disciples ahead of Him to the towns and villages He intended to
visit. Their task was to prepare the people to receive the Lord. It is likely
that many of these towns were Samaritan settlements—places where the reception
of Jesus' message could be uncertain, either warm or hostile. Aware of this,
Jesus gives the disciples clear and urgent instructions.
He begins by emphasizing the magnitude of the
mission: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask
the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Lk 10:2).
The implication is clear—the task of evangelization is immense, and more
workers are needed. Even seventy are not enough to carry the Good News to the
ends of the earth.
Jesus prepares His disciples not only for the work
but also for the dangers they will face. “I am sending you out like lambs
among wolves” (Lk 10:3). This striking image speaks of vulnerability and
danger. Yet, despite the threat, they are not to rely on human resources or
comforts. He tells them: “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no
one on the road” (Lk 10:4). They are to be radically dependent on God and
on the hospitality of those they encounter—true followers of a penniless
preacher.
Messengers of Peace
The first action of the disciples, upon entering a
house, must be to offer peace: “Peace to this house” (Lk 10:5). They are
bearers of divine peace. If the household is receptive, the peace will rest on
it; if not, the blessing will return to them. Jesus also instructs them to stay
in the home that welcomes them—not to move from house to house seeking better
hospitality. They are to accept with gratitude whatever is offered, showing
contentment and simplicity.
Curing
the Sick and Proclaiming the Kingdom
The disciples were empowered to heal the sick and
to proclaim: “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (Lk 10:9). Even
in the case of rejection, they are not to be discouraged. They are to publicly
shake the dust from their feet in protest and still declare: “Yet know this:
the kingdom of God has come near” (Lk 10:11). Rejection of the messenger is
ultimately rejection of the message—and of Christ Himself.
Jesus warns that the towns which reject His
messengers will face a harsher judgment than Sodom. This solemn warning
emphasizes the seriousness of responding to God's call with faith.
The
Authority of the Disciples and the Joy of Mission
The mission of the seventy echoes that of the
twelve (Lk 9:1). Upon their return, the disciples are overjoyed: “Lord, even
the demons are subject to us in Your name!” (Lk 10:17). Jesus confirms
their experience by sharing His own vision: “I saw Satan fall like lightning
from heaven” (Lk 10:18). This apocalyptic image reveals that their ministry
is an extension of Jesus’ own triumph over evil. The kingdom of God is breaking
in, and Satan’s dominion is collapsing.
Jesus grants them spiritual authority: “I have
given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of
the enemy, and nothing will hurt you” (Lk 10:19). This echoes Old Testament
promises (cf. Ps 91:13; Deut 8:15) and affirms that God will protect them as
they carry out their mission.
Yet, Jesus refocuses their joy: “Do not rejoice
that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in
heaven” (Lk 10:20). The true reward of discipleship is not power or success
in ministry, but eternal life. Our joy must be rooted not in our
accomplishments, but in our belonging to God’s kingdom.
The
Ongoing Conflict and the Call to Fidelity
The mission of the disciples is not without
resistance. The fall of Satan reminds us that there will always be a conflict
between good and evil, between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.
But Christ’s victory is assured. The Church, as the Body of Christ, continues
this mission and must be ready to face opposition with courage, compassion, and
peace.
Conclusion
These readings converge on one profound truth: the
Christian life is not rooted in human glory or power but in divine consolation,
in the transforming power of the Cross, and in the humble joy of belonging to
God. Like the seventy disciples, our greatest joy must not be in what we do for
God, but in the assurance that our names are written in heaven. Let us then
rejoice, be renewed, and carry the Cross with love and fidelity.
The Gospel today is both a consolation and a
challenge. It assures us that God accompanies us in our mission, empowering us
with His Spirit. At the same time, it calls us to radical trust, simplicity,
peace, and perseverance. Let us embrace the joy of the Gospel, live with a
missionary heart, and always remember: our truest reward is not what we do for
Christ, but that we belong to Him.
Points
for Personal Reflection
- In today’s world, you and I
are part of the seventy sent out by Jesus. Am I ready to be a herald of
the Good News?
- In Isaiah, the Lord promises
peace to Jerusalem like a river (Is 66:12); in Galatians, Paul extends
peace to all who are a new creation in Christ (Gal 6:16); and in the
Gospel, Jesus commands His disciples to speak peace into every house they
enter (Lk 10:5). Is my heart at peace with God? Am I in the state of grace
to receive and share this divine peace?
- Do I truly recognize that
the kingdom of God has drawn near to me (Lk 10:9,11)? Does my life reflect
this nearness?
- In my ministry and Christian
living, do I focus on outward achievements—or do I rejoice in the deeper
truth that my name is written in heaven?
