Reading

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’

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This sounds like Jesus was asking an awful lot from his followers. This wasn’t just the twelve apostles, it was others who had heard his message that he sent out.

He had sent out the apostles first of all and it was a great success. They came back excited because people were listening to the message that everyone could get to heaven.

In the past the people of Jesus’ time believed only certain people could get to heaven. Now they were being told they could all get there and they liked what they heard. Jesus was now going to take the message out into other towns and villages so he sent 36 pairs of his followers to say he was coming. A bit like advertising a tour.

This was not an easy thing for them to do. In biblical times people would welcome travellers into their homes. There were inns and hotels as we know, but some people would help travellers by giving them a bed for the night. Often sleeping with the family animas, so it was not always the most comfortable.

This is what Jesus asked them to do, to go and spread the word to those who would listen. If they would not listen, it was their loss and the pair should move on.   So off they went not knowing where they could sleep, if they would get fed, they only had the clothes they were wearing. Just imagine if you were asked to do that. Added to which they were travelling by foot! No buses trains or cars, not even a donkey to ride on.

But when the Seventy two came back they found people did listen to them. They liked what they heard. They were welcoming and they were waiting for Jesus to visit them. The surprise would have been that when he turned up, he was no great superstar, not glamourous surrounded by a wealthy looking entourage but a simple carpenter with his very ordinary looking mates, who were fishermen or other such every day jobs.

Jesus asks is to love one another, which means be kind to one another. You are young but I think you can all think of a time someone was kind to you. Take a moment to think.

Now think of this. Do you think that person will remember ‘I was kind to him?

And then think of this, can you remember being kind to someone?

I bet the third one was the hardest to remember. How we treat people stays with them, not with us. Maya Angelou, the writer said, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel”.

When you are kind, you spread the message of God. Sometimes it’s hard, we need strength to be kind on occasions. Take a moment to pray for that strength.

Closing Prayer

Lord, I believe: I wish to believe in you. Lord, let my faith be full and unreserved, and let it guide my thought, my way of judging all things. Lord, let my faith be joyful and give peace and gladness to my spirit, and prepare it for prayer and conversation with people,  so that the inner bliss may shine forth in my words.