First Reading - 2 Timothy 4:10-17
Gospel - Luke 10:1-9
In the first reading, Paul writes from prison, feeling abandoned by many of his companions — “Demas has deserted me,” he says — yet he is not bitter. Instead, he finds strength in God’s presence: “The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be proclaimed.” Even when human support failed him, Paul’s courage came from the Lord who never left his side. His mission continued, not because everything was easy, but because his heart burned with love for Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to carry His message of peace and healing. He tells them to go with simplicity — “carry no purse, no bag, no sandals” — and to rely completely on God’s providence. Their mission was not about comfort or control, but about trust and generosity. Wherever they went, they were to proclaim, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”
Dear friends, God does not call us to an easy path, but He never sends us alone. Like Paul, we may face rejection or loneliness; like the seventy-two, we may have to leave behind our securities. But the same Lord who sent them also stands beside us, giving us the strength we need to keep going.
This means we are all missionaries — not necessarily by traveling far, but by bringing God’s love into the ordinary spaces of our lives: our homes, workplaces, and communities. Every word of kindness, every act of patience, every witness of hope is part of God’s mission through us.
The world still longs to hear the message of peace — that the Kingdom of God is near. Let us, then, be faithful messengers. Even when the path feels lonely or the results seem small, remember: the Lord stands beside you. Like Paul, draw strength from His presence. Like the seventy-two, go forward with trust. And when you do, your life will proclaim the greatest truth of all — that God’s love is alive and at work in the world through those who remain faithful to Him.
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