20250706 ANNOUNCING THE GOOD NEWS
06 July 2025, Sunday, 14th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading | Isaiah 66:10-14 |
Towards Jerusalem I send flowing peace, like a river
Rejoice, Jerusalem,
be glad for her, all you who love her!
Rejoice, rejoice for her,
all you who mourned her!
That you may be suckled, filled,
from her consoling breast,
that you may savour with delight
her glorious breasts.
For thus says the Lord:
Now towards her I send flowing
peace, like a river,
and like a stream in spate
the glory of the nations.
At her breast will her nurslings be carried
and fondled in her lap.
Like a son comforted by his mother
will I comfort you.
And by Jerusalem you will be comforted.
At the sight your heart will rejoice,
and your bones flourish like the grass.
To his servants the Lord will reveal his hand.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 65(66):1-7,16,20 |
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
‘Before you all the earth shall bow;
shall sing to you, sing to your name!’
Come and see the works of God,
tremendous his deeds among men.
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him;
he rules for ever by his might.
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
Come and hear, all who fear God.
I will tell what he did for my soul:
Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer
nor withhold his love from me.
Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
Second reading |
Galatians 6:14-18 |
The marks on my body are those of Jesus
The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him to become an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.
I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers. Amen.
Gospel Acclamation | Jn15:15 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
Or: | Col3:15,16 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts;
let the message of Christ find a home with you.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Luke 10:1-12,17-20 |
Your peace will rest on that man
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.
‘Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.
‘Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.” I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’
The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’
ANNOUNCING THE GOOD NEWS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Isa 66:10-14; Ps 66:1-7, 16, 20; Gal 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20, or 10:1-9]
The theme of peace is repeated in all the three readings. They inspire a joyful and positive approach to life, now and in the future. Isaiah speaks of the return of Israel from exile and prophesy of their triumphant return to Jerusalem, the Holy City and their mother. The city of Jerusalem is celebrated as a nurturing mother giving birth and new life to Her child, Israel. Their return would bring a new era of peace and prosperity. “For thus says the Lord: Now towards her I send flowing peace, like a river.” Hence, the responsorial psalm invites us to “Cry out with joy to God all the earth. Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds! Come and see the works of God, tremendous his deeds among men.'”
Indeed, the world is in turmoil today. Not only are there civil wars, but also military conflicts between nations, as well as trade and technological wars being waged. The world lives in trepidation of the unknown, as World War III is no longer a remote possibility. With so many tensions around the globe, there is no peace. Businesses and trade are affected, and jobs and the economy are at stake. In such a situation, more than ever, we need to proclaim the Good News of peace. This is why Pope Leo, in his first address to the world after being elected Pope, said, “Peace be with you!” St Luke links evangelization with the announcement of peace. “Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.”
How can this peace come about unless we, as Christians, announce the Gospel of peace to all nations? In the Gospel, Jesus “appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.'” It is worth noting that Luke’s gospel contains two accounts of Jesus sending out His disciples to spread the Good News: in chapter 9, He sends the Twelve apostles, and in chapter 10, He sends seventy-two disciples. This is Luke’s way of emphasizing that the mission of proclaiming the Good News is not limited to the Twelve Apostles. All of us – by virtue of our baptism – are called to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the whole world.
Consequently, we must never think that the work of evangelization is not ours simply because we are laypeople. Nor should we ever assume that it is someone else’s responsibility and not our own. Some of us are quick to delegate our obligation to proclaim the Good News to others. We expect other parents’ children to become priests or religious, serving in Church ministry, while we ourselves only want to be served and receive their services.
How do we bring peace? The first step to healing is the proclamation of the Word – of the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is through proclaiming the Word of God, especially the message of Jesus, that we invite others to repentance and awareness. With repentance comes the conversion of heart and mind. Many people live in ignorance, believing that what they pursue in life will bring them happiness, when in reality, it leads to broken relationships – with colleagues, and with the family. Many are influenced by the Evil One and tempted to sin. However, when the Word of God is preached or shared with faith and conviction, it has the power to transform lives and open the hearts of those who are searching for lasting peace and happiness. We never know how God may touch the hearts of others if we have the courage to share our faith, our lives, and even some verses of Scripture with those going through pain, doubt, or difficulty.
Secondly, the proclamation of the Word of God must be accompanied by the ministry of healing. Jesus placed special emphasis on His disciples’ call to heal. Healing is an essential part of the Gospel – without it, the message becomes mere words rather than truly the Good News. We all need some form of healing in our lives. The Lord says, “Cure those in it who are sick, and say, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you.'” If the world is divided, it is because society is divided; and if society is divided, it is because the family is divided. But this division begins within each individual who is wounded and broken. Healing is never merely physical; it also involves the mind, heart and soul. In fact, physical illness very often stems from emotional, psychological and spiritual illness. When we live dishonestly and immorally, we have no peace in our hearts, and we cause division wherever we go. When we are focused only on pleasure, our lives lack true meaning and purpose.
Spiritual healing initiates the process of healing the whole person. This is why there is no greater healing antidote for someone who is hurt and broken and angry than the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Healing and reconciliation open up a person to renewed relationship with God and with their brothers and sisters. When the soul and relationships are healed, the body, too, often experiences healing. Indeed, repentance, reconciliation and salvation are interconnected aspects of healing. Therefore, the proclamation of the Gospel must aim to heal people of their brokenness and fears. We need to be engaged in ministries that bring hope and welcome, especially within our communities. These include hospitality ministry, family and marriage support, organizing retreats, prayer groups, and ministries that reach out to the marginalised, the lonely, the elderly, and those who have left the Church. For these individuals, we must help them to find reconciliation with God – so that they may also be reconciled with others.
This also explains why friendship is one of the most effective ways to proclaim the Good News. Evangelization does not always require a rally or a big prayer meeting. More often, faith is shared and spread through one-on-one friendships. Jesus did not always reach out to the multitudes; He often approached individuals – like Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan Woman, Levi, the centurion, and many others. We, too, can bring our friends to Jesus through our friendship with them. When we are true friends our words and faith-sharing are more readily received because they know we speak out of love, not with the intent to proselytize. We should therefore ask ourselves: when was the last time I invited someone to come to Church, or shared our God-experience, or His word? If we are not inviting our friends to know God, it means that we do not love them enough to care about their spiritual life and salvation, or that we do not really love God enough to think that He is worth introducing. Let us, then, share our joy, peace, and love by sharing Jesus with them. Only Jesus can bring true peace, even amid our anxieties and suffering.
Thirdly, effective proclamation must be rooted in prayer and dependence on God. We do not proclaim the Gospel through our own strength. Commitment to prayer is crucial if we are to do the work of God. For this reason, the Lord instructed the disciples, “Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.” In other words, the Lord wants us to be totally dependent on Him. Indeed, we must never get carried away, like the disciples were when they saw the power Christ shared with them in healing and exorcism. “The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.” He said to them, “Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.” We must not think that the fruits of our ministry come from our own efforts, but always recognize that they are the result of our union with God.
Indeed, St Paul reminds us, “The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God. I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus.” St Paul was a great preacher and missionary because he allowed the crucified Christ to live in Him. He was completely identified with the Lord in spirit and in life. We too, if we are to be great missionaries and evangelizers must likewise stay close to our Lord in prayer. Unless we read the Word of God daily, contemplate on His Face, and receive Him in the Sacraments, we will not have the strength to be His voice and His presence in the world.
Finally, we must never work alone, but always with others. We must never proclaim the Gospel alone. This is why the Lord sent His disciples in pairs – so that they can encourage and support each other. We need to belong to a faith community and to the larger Church if we are to effectively bring the gospel to others. As the Lord said, “Remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Indeed, we will face temptations, trials, rejection, ridicule and even persecution. If we walk alone, we may become disheartened. But when we journey with others, we find strength to bring the hope, joy and peace of the Gospel to all – because we know that Christ is with us. With the support, teaching, and ministry of our clergy, the laity will find the strength and courage to bring the Gospel into the marketplace. We must work together as one body, using the talents God has given to each one of us.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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