Dear Parish Family,

The sending of the seventy-two disciples teaches us a lot about being a disciple of Christ sent to evangelize. Christ gives us His grace as He sends us to make our lives and vocations bear fruit abundantly in whatever situation we are in! I'll share a few Gospel highlights below to help us remember His wisdom and grace as He sends us out this day:

 

• We are sent out together. Jesus sends out the 72 disciples in pairs. They are given to one another to encourage and support each other in sharing the Gospel. We can't be disciples alone, which is why we have our local parish community and our family and friends.

• We aren't the only ones being sent. There are 35 other "pairings" of disciples. Our mission may be to plant a seed of faith in someone's heart and for someone else to water it, or we may be watering the seed that another has planted. We work together to help others move forward in their acceptance of Christ in some small way. The Lord will send others to complete the good work we have begun, or we may be sent to complete the good work another has already begun. Bearing fruit takes time and the commitment of many disciples.

• Evangelization is a work of prayer. Jesus invites His disciples to pray for the Master to send out more laborers for His harvest. The harvest is abundant! There are so many people ripe in faith that just need a little invitation. Once that seed bears fruit in someone's heart, they will want to be part of Christ's fruitful mission. Pray for them, invite them to be with you on the journey of faith!

• Evangelization takes courage and endurance. We may fail, be misunderstood, taken advantage of, or ignored. It's okay. Jesus warns His disciples He is sending them like lambs among wolves. So be a lamb when you experience rejection for Christ. Accept it willingly for Christ's sake and even that rejection will bear fruit.

• Evangelization doesn't take extraordinary resources. Carry no money bag, sack or sandals. We don't need to be rich, be a good speaker, or have a master's degree in pastoral theology to be a faithful disciple on mission. These tools may be useful in certain cases, but we just need to reflect Christ authentically by being open to His grace and sharing it generously with others.

• Shake it off. No, I'm not quoting Taylor Swift! We wish others the peace of Christ when we  encourage them in faith, even if this peace isn't readily welcomed. If others aren't open to listening or receiving from you, shake the dust from your feet. Don't bring resentment or hurts with you when Christ's Gospel is rejected. Forgive, let go, and move on. Keeping your peace in the midst of affliction and rejection is quite possibly the greatest witness we can give to others of the reality of Christ's resurrection!

 

These highlights from the Gospel can really help us follow Christ more faithfully and make our lives more abundant with the fruits of the Holy Spirit! Pray with these points this week and see how the Lord may be speaking to you through the words of the Gospel.

Next weekend we invite Brother Raymond Papenfuss from the Brothers of Holy Cross for our annual Mission Appeal. Please see information in today's bulletin about the mission and be generous to Brother Raymond and his mission as you hear him speak!

I am yours in Christ,

Fr. Scott Goodfellow