Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Great Commission is the name given to the account in the Gospel of Matthew of Jesus’ instruction to the apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is the task the Lord entrusts to them just before the Ascension, and to empower the apostles to carry out this great work, the Holy Spirit is sent on Pentecost. Today, a few weeks removed from Pentecost, the Church gives us a different sort of commission for our meditation. Perhaps we could call the story of the sending of the seventy-two that we read today in Luke’s Gospel the evangelist’s commission, or the practical commission, or even, the broad commission.

As an evangelist’s commission, Luke 10 reminds us that an evangelist is one who brings good news. The good news that this group of 72 is bringing is that Jesus is coming – indeed, they have been sent to every town and place Jesus intends to visit. Just so, when anyone makes an attempt at evangelizing, we are not only sharing our faith, but also inviting people to an encounter and meeting with the Risen Lord. He sends us out as witnesses in a world to which He very much desires to be present. We ought to consider ourselves as numbered among those 72 who are sent out in pairs, for Jesus wants to visit and encounter the hearts of all people, and He will do so through our witness and our example.

This Gospel passage is also a practical commission. So often we are unsure about how to evangelize, how to be witnesses to Jesus in the world, but here, He offers a road map and some instruction. First, we are told to pray for more laborers, for the work is dangerous – we are like sheep among wolves. As we go, we are reminded that evangelization is not about having the best equipment or the most funds – while means and material are certainly helpful, the message of the Gospel does not depend on them. If our effort in witnessing to Jesus is met with receptivity and peace, the Lord says, we should stay. And if it is resisted, He gives us permission to fail, and even encouragement in the face of rejection. Shake the dust from your feet and keep going. Practically, Jesus teaches the Church that the mission is bigger and more important that success or failure.

Finally, we see that this commission is broad. When we read the Gospel, we’ll often find that the Lord speaks to the Twelve, and indeed, the apostolic band represent Jesus’ closest collaborators, and are the first priests and bishops of the Church. When Jesus sends out 72 others, we are meant to hear a number of Biblical significance. In Scripture, the number 72 carries a sense of universality – Genesis 10 lists 72 nations that descended from Noah. The commissioning of 72 indicates that the proclamation of the Gospel is entrusted broadly to all who would follow Jesus. Yes, the Apostles and their successors share in a very unique way in the mission to bring the Good News to the whole world, but so too will this vast crowd of disciples. Each of us is called in some way to be an evangelist and witness, to bring Jesus to the world.

It may seem like a tall order. When we recognize our place in the broad commission, we might wonder how we are to participate. Fortunately, Jesus also makes this a practical commission and tells us how we are to carry out the task. And when we wonder why He has chosen us, let us remember that this is an evangelist’s commission, which sends us to prepare the way for Jesus to come into the hearts and lives of people everywhere. It is Jesus who intends to visit, who desires to save, who brings peace, healing, and grace, and who writes our names in heaven.

Peace,

Fr. Sam