Peace

14th Sunday Of Ordinary Time, Year C

The theme of today’s Gospel, like last Sunday’s Gospel is discipleship and all the difficulties, challenges and rewards that come from following Jesus. We are all called to be missionaries to spread the Good News of the Gospel and to increase the Kingdom of God.

Sharing in the mission of Jesus is difficult, but there are many places in our lives where we can be missionaries. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we work, or at home or in our communities or even with our friends where we can show God’s love in a single gesture of caring or kindness. Simply accepting another person, understanding or forgiving them can be a way of showing them that the Kingdom of God has begun.

Jesus appoints 72 people to go ahead of him to every place which he is to visit, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is near. He sends them in pairs, maybe for safety reasons but according to the Law of Moses two witnesses were needed for a testimony to be credible.

They are to take nothing with them, no bag no purse no sandals, Jesus’ teachings and healing is all that they need. When they enter a house, their message is simply “peace.” The response they receive may be positive or negative. Jesus relies on us as he did those first disciples, to make his offer of peace to others, he needs our help to evangelize. When they return from their journeys, they are rejoicing because their mission has been successful. Demons were under their power because of the name of Jesus. Although Jesus sent them out as lambs among wolves he assures them that nothing will harm them, not even serpents and scorpions.

When we tell others about the peace which God offers, we are evangelizing. As Christians we are called to be witnesses of God’s love, which is freely available to all people. Evangelization is played out in our everyday actions and conversation and in our pastoral and sacramental duties. Even our bodies are a part of our evangelization especially within our families. Pope Francis reminds us that “all of us are called to offer others an explicit witness to the saving love of the Lord, who despite our imperfections offers us his closeness, his word and his strength, and gives meaning to our lives”(Evangelii Gaudium-‘The Joy of the Gospel’).

A reading from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 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 labourers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers 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 labourer 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. This week encourage your family to make an effort to act like the missionaries which Jesus sent out in this Gospel. Wherever you all go take the peace of Christ with you and offer it to others whom you meet. At the end of the week discuss and share with each other how your actions have affected others.
  4. Think about how you may be more active in the life and work of your parish. Maybe you can help out in your community, speak to your Parish Priest to see how you can help.
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from St Luke (Lk10:1-12, 17-20)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the readings and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊 

Have you ever played, ‘Follow the leader’? In this game, the one who is at the front is the leader, the others follow him and do whatever this person does. If the leader jumps, the ones behind, jump too. If the leader bends down, they bend down, if the leader scratches his head, the rest will do the same. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to follow him, he wants to be our leader. Let us listen, to what our leader, Jesus, wants to tell us today.

  • God loves us and saves us through Jesus and as followers of Jesus we are called to tell other people the Good News about Jesus.
  • Smiley face template
  • Colours
  • Pencil/Scissors
templateDownload

Have you ever done a jigsaw puzzle? A jigsaw puzzle is a picture printed on cardboard or wood and cut into different shapes which you have to fit together to make up the picture. Some are small and only have a few pieces which can easily be put together, but some have over 1000 pieces and they are not so easy to do alone. A large jigsaw can be very confusing and difficult to do alone so it would be easier if someone else were to help you sort out all the pieces and help you to complete the picture. Working together and helping each other always makes a task easier. We can achieve more when we are not alone. 

Jesus knew this too, he knew that he needed help to share his message about God’s love and forgiveness with other people. Who do you think helped Jesus in his mission when he was on earth? It was the twelve disciples, but today we hear when Jesus sent 72 disciples on a mission to go out to the villages and he sent them out in pairs (in two’s). 

Jesus tells them they are to cure the sick and spread the Good News about God’s Kingdom. Jesus wants his followers to help each other, they are to bring peace to every home that they enter. Jesus warns them that they will not be welcome in some homes but they are not to lose courage. They return to Jesus filled with excitement and joy because they have helped to spread the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells his followers that their names are written in heaven and they will be with God forever. This made them feel very happy. We are also followers of Jesus and he wants us to tell others about him and he wants us to do this happily and by helping each other. 

Print out the smiley faces and colour them. On the back you can write how you can tell others about Jesus. Cut them out and keep them next to your bed, before you go to sleep take a look at what you have written and try to spread the Good News about Jesus this week with your family and friends.

Listen to the song; Jump Around.

Sign of the Cross

Dear Jesus, thank you for sharing your Good News with us. Help us to share it with the people that we meet by what we do and say. Help us to do this in a happy way. In your name we pray. Amen

Today we hear how Jesus chose 72 of his followers and he sent them out two-by-two on a mission, to go into the towns and villages to bring the Good News about Jesus to all the people. He told them to take nothing with them, no purse, haversack or sandals. They were to speak words of peace in the houses they entered, they returned to Jesus very happy.

  • We are called to tell others the Good News about what Jesus has done for us.
  • Bringing the Good News about Jesus to others is called evangelization.
  • We don’t need lots of things to evangelize, we just need to show others how much God loves us and saves us through Jesus
  • Printout of a suitcase
  • Pencils/Colours
TemplateDownload

Have you ever been on a vacation? Usually we have to choose the things which we might need on our holiday, and pack them in a suitcase since it’s not possible to take all our possessions with us. What would you take with you? Clothes, shoes, toothbrush, hairbrush, camera ….. What else can you think of? We have to think about what are the most important things that we might need but sometimes we have to distinguish between what we want to take with us and what we actually need. In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out 72 disciples on a mission, he sent them two-by two and tells them not to take anything with them! No money, no purse, no bag not even a pair of sandals. He tells them to go into the towns and villages and spread the Good News about Jesus. They are to cure the sick and help those in need, they go in two’s so they can help each other and all they need is God’s grace (love) and the knowledge that they were preaching and healing in the name of Jesus.

Why do you think Jesus told them to leave everything behind? It’s because all they needed was the Good News that Jesus gave us about God’s love and nothing else. Jesus told them that not everyone would welcome them into their house but that must not discourage them. Just like the 72 disciples Jesus wants us today to show others that we follow Jesus, that we are his disciples this is called evangelization. This is a big word but its message is very simple, we are to tell others about the Good News that God loves us and Jesus saves us through his life, death and resurrection. Although the world tells us that we need many things in order to be happy, Jesus tells us that all we need is to believe in him and to share our belief with our friends and families. When you are packing for a vacation this summer, don’t forget to take the Good News with you.

Now, think about how you can share the Good News about Jesus with others (evangelize). How can you spread peace to others? Print the template and write your ideas inside the suitcase. It can be a small act of kindness or a smile or just giving your parents a big hug and say thank you for all that they do for you. Make an effort this week to act like the missionaries Jesus sent out in today’s Gospel, wherever you go take the peace of Christ with you.

Listen to the song; Tell the World.

Sign of the cross.

Dear God, I thank you for all the people who spread the Good News about Jesus throughout the world. Help me to do my part also and show others that I am your disciple through my words and actions. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen

Coming Soon.

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.