26th Week in Ordinary Time
Théresè of the Child Jesus

1st Reading: Ne 8:1–4a, 5–6, 7b–12
Gospel: Lk 10:1–12
The Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know. Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: ‘Peace to this house.’ If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house. When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’ But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know and be sure that the kingdom of God had come to you.’ I tell you that on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for this town.”

Commentary
How often do we meditate on the fact that God is a God of joy? Ezra spoke of the joy of Yahweh as our strength. We are told that, when God created the world, God saw that it was good. When we say that something is good, we are expressing pleasure in experiencing it. God has pleasure and joy as he works with his creation. We should think about the attribute of God’s joy. Without a doubt, it has been a neglected aspect of His character. Yet, it is in God’s joy that we find our strength.
Christ came to reveal God’s joy to us. Christ was to be characterized by joy, to be the one in whom God delights. It was prophesied that Christ would be anointed with the oil of joy. He laid down His life for us that we might have the full measure of His joy in us. Christ makes it perfectly clear in that seeking the lost is His greatest joy. We are expected to rejoice with Him as sinners come to Him. The Holy Spirit allows us to enter into the joy of God. So, let us rejoice and be glad in Him!

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