Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time/C
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Lk 10:1-12. 17-20) Jesus sends seventy-two disciples two by two before him to every town and place where he was going to go to bring the gift of peace, to announce that the Kingdom of God is at hand and to heal the sick. It is interesting to note the conclusion of today’s Gospel where Jesus, in front of the seventy-two disciples full of joy for having operationally accomplished the mission entrusted to them, defines the real reason why the disciples should rejoice, because their names are written in the heavens. In essence, Jesus makes it clear that it is not the ‘doing’, the ‘realising’ that truly gives meaning, realises our life, but only the existential awareness of a project, of a love that precedes and envelops us, of a living and life-giving relationship that gives our existence stability, joy and peace.The joy, the location of life is deeply connected with our true expectations, often not thematised and encountered, but present and conditioning our every choice. If our relationship with God is real, we slowly learn to know the true intentions of our actions, to fearlessly encounter our needs, and on this journey we become capable of educating our desire, of truly seeking our good, of transforming our encountered needs into the best of our resources.
The Introit of today’s Celebration is taken from Psalm 47 (Ps 47:10. 11) with the following text:
Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio templi tui:
secundum nomen tuum, Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terrae:
justitia plena est dextera tua.
(We have received your mercy, O God, in the midst of your temple;
even as your name, so also does your praise extend to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The live performance is by the Pontifical Musical Chapel “Sistina” at the Papal Celebration on 2 February 2017.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
