October 18, 2024.

Luke 10:1-9.

In this passage, Jesus sends out seventy other disciples to bring the teachings to many towns and to heal the sick.  He gives them instructions to take nothing with them and to eat whatever is offered to them.  He acknowledges that he is sending them out like lambs into the midst of wolves.  Nowadays we are familiar with missionaries and evangelists, but in those days, this would have been a new and perilous role, it would have been a lonely and uncertain journey.  At least they went in pairs with instructions to offer peace to each household they entered. 

We are often asked by God to do things that are not familiar, beyond our comfort zone, full of uncertainty and loneliness.  Our logical minds may question, why are we doing this?  And yet we do what is asked, it is hoped. For example, it may be lonely and uncertain to post messages on a blog, yet it may make sense later.  It depends on whether we want our lives to be shaped by God or by our human priorities. However there is kinship among those who seek to follow God’s will, whether in pairs or groups or friendships, we recognize one another.  A bit of loneliness is good – it opens the mind to listening. 

That is all. It is the weekend.