Luke 10:1-11 (NRSV)
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Chapter 10After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. Verse 2He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Verse 3Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Verse 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Verse 5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' Verse 6And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Verse 7Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Verse 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; Verse 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' Verse 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, Verse 11'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
Devotion
Sometimes it is impossible to make our lives work. Roadblocks appear, relationships suffer and we fail with our best effort. The admonition to the apostolate is to shake the dust off their feet when they meet rejection and to move on to the next house or town.
Often I do let my heart be troubled. I do permit it to be disquieted within me. I hang on to old mistakes.
Lord, there are relationships, times and events in my life that trouble me and try as I will, I am not successful practicing prayer or reconciliation with the person, place or event.
It is freeing to know there comes a time when the best thing to do is to shake the dust off my feet and move on with my life. Jesus is wise in giving us the freedom to let go and let God work.
Prayer
Father, forgive my blind spot, my conceit. Lead me in the way of new life and new love. Help me to bring my best self to every challenge and then to move on and rest back in you. Amen.