Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 7, 2019 – Year C
Readings: Is 66:10-14C / Ps 66 / Gal 6:14-18 / Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Many of us are old enough to know that whatever you give you will receive. In most cases the result is immediate. For example, if you give someone a kind word, you will immediately feel good.

However, there are times when the opposite is true. In today’s gospel, we have heard that the Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two of his followers to go and proclaim the good news of God’s salvation. Before He sent them out, part of His instructions was for them to give a blessing of peace. He told them, “Into whatever house you enter, first say ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you.”

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said “Peace I leave you, my own peace I give you. A peace the world cannot give.” This is part of the celebrant’s prayer later in this Mass, before we give each other the sign of peace. The kind of peace that will give us the grace and strength to be channels of God’s blessing and love.

Now as we go forth after this Mass, our Lord Jesus, whose Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, which we will receive shortly in Holy Communion, will continue to be with us in our journey. May we always be aware of His presence in our lives. May we also see Him in every person we meet in the course of the day and look for every opportunity to be of help in whatever way we can. It may be as simple as listening to someone’s trials and difficulties. You may not be able to solve all their problems, but you will make them feel that there is someone who cares in this confused universe.

In doing so, as Saint Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, “The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”