Daily Readings - Tue Oct 18 2022
2 Timothy
9Do your best to come to me soon.10For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.11Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.12Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.14Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.15Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.16At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
Luke
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.2And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.3Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.4Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.8Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.9Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the challenges of discipleship. In the first reading from 2 Timothy, Paul expresses his isolation and abandonment by others, yet he remains steadfast in his faith, knowing that the Lord stands with him. He urges Timothy to remain faithful and to avoid those who oppose the Gospel. In the Gospel, Luke recounts Jesus sending out 72 disciples ahead of him, instructing them to trust in God’s provision and to proclaim the kingdom of God. They are to go forth with simplicity, relying not on material possessions but on the grace of God and the hospitality of others.
Both readings emphasize the importance of trust and detachment. Paul, despite being forsaken by many, finds strength in the Lord, who frees him from the “mouth of the lion.” Similarly, Jesus sends his disciples into the world with minimal provisions, teaching them to depend on God and the kindness of strangers. This trust is not passive; it is active and rooted in faith. The disciples are called to proclaim the kingdom fearlessly, knowing that their labor is not in vain. For Paul, too, his suffering is not without purpose, as it allows the Gospel to reach more people.
These readings challenge us to examine our own trust in God’s plan. Like the disciples, we are called to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain. Like Paul, we must persevere through trials, knowing that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. In our daily lives, this means letting go of our need for control and security, and instead embracing the simplicity and humility of discipleship. May we, like Paul and the 72, trust in God’s providence and proclaim the Good News with courage and joy, knowing that the kingdom of God is near.