Homily for the Week of July 7, 2013

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2013 Isaiah 66:10-14c; Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, A recent radio interview featured a journalist who decided to spend a year doing jobs that most Americans will not do. One of these jobs was to harvest lettuce. For two months he was the only white person toiling among Mexican migrant workers. He described the back-breaking labor vividly and how he had to become numb to the pains in his back and hands and arms to make it through each day. He had to ignore his fierce thirst from the relentless heat and sun, for to take a break to get water would put him hopelessly behind. What was most impressive in his story was the way people helped one another in the fields. When one person was sick and could not keep up the pace, all the others automatically took on a bit more of a load to help her get through the day. In today’s Gospel Jesus invites 72 of his followers to take up the very strenuous work of evangelization. As in the lettuce fields, the harvest is abundant, but those who are willing to take on this demanding work are few. Those who do take it up are “like lambs among wolves,” gentle and loving, while facing fierce opposition that could even devour them Jesus sends them out in pairs. He tells them the job is URGENT (it has to be done right away.) He tells them "greet no one along the way" There is no time to waste; and the message is just as urgent. God is demanding a decision right now: are you for him or against him? He also tells them that they "you are going to be treated like lambs among wolves. But they are to bring no weapons. They are to live and eat with those who invite them. Just who are these other 72? They were not priests or nuns. They were people just like you. They were women and men. From the very beginning Jesus invites and asks persons like yourself to help him. He invites mothers and fathers; married and single; youth and senior citizens; teachers and students; correct officers and carpenters and bankers and store clerks and farmers; nurses and hospice workers; altar servers and lectors; those who take care of persons and those who take care of machines; volunteers of parish councils and fire departments and rescue squads and hospice; those who take time to visit and care for the sick and shut ins; those who hunt for lost children; members of the Knights of Columbus and workers unions; moms and dads who pray with their children at bedtime. And what are they doing? Very simple. They are telling those willing to hear that God is near; God cares for them. Most of those to whom they talked had never heard this good news, or if they had, they did not believe it or had forgotten it. At Baptism we inherited our Catholic religion, and we were invited to make Jesus the center of how we live. Like the 72 we were also invited to go our and announce the good news of their religion. But how can we talk about the good news if we do not know the good news. Unfortunately, many of us may be poorly informed about our religion. Or we have not updated our religion since the time we made our First Communion or Confirmation. That is why the Knights of Columbus have provided two books: Catholicism and Dynamic Catholic, to help you to update.That is why each weekend you can take home a new Dear Padre question and answer on the back of the parish bulletin. This week you will find the Catholic teaching on Purgatory. . Yes, who are the 72? They are you. At this Mass, renew again your desire and your faith that you will go out into your world, and by the way you live and the things you do let all persons know that God' is near and cares. It is only in sharing your faith that we will build your faith. And if in some one way you might have missed the invitation or it got lost, Jesus invites you and me again to be one of those 72. He expects each one of us as disciples to go to every town and place to share his message. All of us are to imitate him; we are to copy his way of life. His call to us here in 2013 is just as urgent, or probably more urgent, than when he lived on earth. So, we first of all must be convinced of our own faith and its practice. You and I are the workers who go out into the vineyard. We also must realize that the vineyard is right here. Those who respond to Jesus’ invitation to go out into the fields never go alone. We all have partners who rally in support of us, ensuring that all together share in the joy of a successful harvest. Even if there were enough priests or nuns to do this work, all of you need to do it.