Third Sunday after Trinity & Baptism
“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!””
Summary
All the gospels tell the story of Jesus sending the 12 disciples to spread the news of God’s kingdom but only Luke’s gospel, 10:11-20, also speaks of the sending out of 70.
Twelve is a magic number in Scripture, the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 disciples, it symbolises the people of God, the Hebrew nation. Seventy is also a special number, it symbolised all the nations of the earth (see Genesis 10). For Luke, the kingdom of God was not just for the special few but for all people.
Jesus sends the 70 out with nothing, no bag, no purse, no sandals. They will need to depend on the hospitality of those they are sent to, all they offer in return is God’s peace. They are warned that they may face rejection and danger, they are sent as “lambs into the midst of wolves”, yet they return rejoicing at everything they have achieved. Jesus reminds them that they should rejoice only in being part of God’s family, the deeds they have done are the result of God at work within them. Their job is to show up just as they are, weak and vulnerable, with nothing to offer except for what God is offering through them.
This morning, we are baptising two children: one is 8 years old and the other just a baby. Baptising children reminds us that we come to God with nothing, we come just as we are, we do not do anything to earn God’s grace, it is a gift that we can receive or reject.
It is hard for us adults to be vulnerable, we prefer to rely on our own strength and resources, but God doesn’t need these. Sure, God will use whatever we’ve got but our accomplishments and cleverness can so easily get in the way of God’s work. God can use our weaknesses so much more than our strengths. It is for us to decide whether we want to cling onto all that we are so proud of, or to trust God’s power to accomplish what we cannot.
GOSPEL
Luke 10.1-11, 16-20
‘ After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He 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. Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. Remain 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. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘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.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
