Rejoice Because Your Names are Written in Heaven

Awhile back, the angels asked me to post on the Gospel for Sundays. With love and gratitude, here is the Gospel of Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.’
Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

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Joy is with those that proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the nations. This joy is the fruit of a job well done, announcing to those who would and would not hear it that the advent of God’s Kingdom is among us. Jesus is communicating here, that it is not we , but He, who brings the Truth and the fullness of the Kingdom. In fact, the seventy-two are told to speak words both to those who accept and those who reject their ministry, and in each case, the words are the same: “the Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” The Gospel is the saving work of Jesus; it is not an idea but an event, a historical moment that perdures throughout time. 

Paul underscores the Truth in Romans, where he says that, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” and then asks, “But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in HIm of whom they have not heard? and how can they hear without someone to preach?” (Romans 10:14)  Significantly, Jesus sends out these disciples these disciples  to prepare the way for his own ministry to the towns. Through deeds and words they are to till the soil Jesus will sow with seed. 

The instructions Jesus gives are sober and remarkably detailed. After alerting them to the dangers they will face as “lambs among wolves,” he details what they can bring, where they can stay, what they can say and eat, and how they are to respond to inhospitable towns. Little is left to chance. 

They return enthusing at their power over the unholy, but Jesus responds by reminding them their power came from Him and that it is salvation, not power that is the only real cause of rejoicing. [see reference] 

The angels remind us: “We all have this authority through Christ our Lord. Everyone. Rejoicing in Jesus’ name is something for all, for all who call upon the name of Jesus are saved through Him, united in Him and for those that believe the Word of God, there is much rejoicing for both Heaven and Earth. Serving God through the Gospels and helping someone to believe will always triumph.  

Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers and Proclaimers of the Word 2016