Daily Gospel XVII: Luke 10: 13-16

Happy Feast of St. Faustina (Thank you to Marian Ninja for your wonderful text this morning about it ;-D)!!!!  You can read a tad bit about her here.

Today's Gospel seems kinda random till you read it in context and/or with the first reading.  In the chapter in Luke, Jesus is sending out the 72 disciples to preach in the different cities, giving them instructions as to what to do if they are welcomed and what to do if the city rejects them.  He basically gives them forewarning that what they are setting out to do will not be easy; it is not a question of if, but when, the Good News will be spurned.  But the hope that Jesus gives is that He is with them and on their side.  Anyone who rejects their message is rejecting the Lord.  Their concern is not to rest in how they are perceived, but in giving glory to God through their work in the towns leaving the results to Him.

Easier said than done, right?

Even when one is doing the works of the Lord, it is an easy trap to fall into to think, "Wow, I am doing this!"  Oops.

Pause.

Rewind about a bajillion steps.

Pause.

You are the instrument.  God is guiding you.  God is with you in your failures.  God is working through your successes.  In the first reading, Job has been asking God to prove to him that he deserves any of the numerous struggles he's been handed, and God is responding that He is still in control; does Job think he can do a better job than the Almighty is doing right now?  God is at work.  Your handiwork is God's.  We are the clay, He is the Potter.

Now go.