First Reading

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (66:10-14c)

Thus says the Lord: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, that you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts! For thus says the Lord: I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass; the Lords power shall be known to his servants.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20)

(R) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!" (R)

"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!" Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (R)

He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. He rules by his might forever. (R)

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (6:14-18)

Brothers and sisters: May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (10:1-12, 17-20)

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and great no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this household." If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, "The kingdom of God is at hand for you." Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, "The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you." Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to "tread upon serpents" and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

A man who suffers from a toothache asks his friend, "What can I do to relieve the agonizing pain?" "Let me tell you what I do," his friend says. "When I have a toothache, I go over to my wife, and she puts her arms around me, and caresses me, and soothes me until finally I forget all about the pain." So delighted with the way his friend eases his pain, the man says, "Oh... that's wonderful. Is she home now?"

In today's first reading which is the last chapter (66) of the Book of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord calls on the people of Israel in the midst of their pain and suffering to turn to Jerusalem for comfort and love. It was the message given to the Israelites fifty years before they were set free and allowed to go back home from their Babylonian captivity and five hundred years before Jesus Christ. The message was God's promise and hope to the Israelites who had suffered unbearable hardships, famine, oppression and humiliation and who had been cut off from their land and God during their captivity. Through the prophet, God told them about the wonderful future awaiting them in Jerusalem.

What is the significance of Jerusalem? Jerusalem is mentioned over eight hundred times in scripture more than any other city. It is often also referred to as Zion, the chosen place to which God descended and in which He found his resting place. We read in Psalm (132:13-14), "For Yahweh has chosen Zion, he had desired it as a home. Here shall I rest for evermore, here shall I make my home as I have wished." The temple of God, Jerusalem, was destroyed by the conquerors and, the Israelites were mourning over her. So God encouraged them to see Jerusalem as a loving mother who nurses and comforts a child. The prophet uses beautiful words and phrase to describe the intimacy between Jerusalem and its people. Let us hear the words once again: "Rejoice with Jerusalem," "be glad because of her," "love her", "exult with her", "the milk of her comfort", "delight at her abundant breasts", "carried in her arms", "fondled in her lap", "prosperity like a river", "overflowing torrent", "flourish like the grass", and so on God promises them that as their mother, Jerusalem would feed them well and care for them. She would carry them in her arms, caress them, restore and refresh their weary bones, make them prosper again and make known His power and glory to them. However, all these blessings would be fulfilled only through Jerusalem. Scripture says how the Israelites rebuilt the city and began the preparation to welcome the Messiah, the Great King of the universe.

What does this message mean to us?

First of all, in the scriptures we are accustomed to hearing of God's love for us in terms of a father's love for His children, how He provides for our needs, protects us and conquers our evil forces. But through the prophet we also recognize God as a Loving Mother who feeds us, cares for us and comforts us in our distress. The prophet says in chapter (49:15), "Can a woman forget her baby at her breast and feel no pity for the child she has borne? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you." It is a wonderful picture of being cared for by God in both a motherly and fatherly way.

Second, Jerusalem is indispensable before, during and after the time of Jesus. It was the centre of messianic prophecy and redemptive history. The scripture narrates the defining moments of Jesus' earthly life and ministry in and around Jerusalem, such as Jesus' dedication in the temple, Luke (2:22-38), His reading and interpreting the scriptures in the temple, Luke (2:41-49), His temptation by the devil on the parapet of the temple, Luke (4:9-12) and His confrontation with the money-changers in the temple, Matthew (21:12-27), His trial and crucifixion in Jerusalem, Matthew (25-27), His resurrection and ascension, Luke (24:1-51; Acts 1:9-11), the beginning of disciples' preaching and finally, Jesus' reign as great King, Savior and God from the city of Jerusalem.

Therefore, for us, Jerusalem is not referred to just a place of worship or the House of God but also the person, Jesus Christ Himself. And through Him, with Him and in Him we all receive abundant blessings. Jesus, like the mother of a child, comforts us with His nourishing Word and feeds us with his body and blood. Let us therefore like the people of Israel when we go through trials and feelings of despair, loneliness and depression, pain and sickness, worries and anxieties, fears and emptiness, and weariness of life, let us confidently seek first Jesus Christ for counsel, comfort and love.

Third, let us rejoice and be glad because of all the many blessings God has given us through his Son Jesus Christ - life and salvation, peace and joy, comfort and strength, inspiration and encouragement in His Word. At the same time let us gladly and courageously proclaim to others our experience of Jesus Christ as a Loving and Merciful Father and Mother. Let us not be afraid or ashamed or embarrassed to sing praises to God in private worship and public gatherings. As Jesus sent seventy-two of his disciples (today's gospel) to preach and heal in his name he is sending us into the world so that God's Power and Glory may be known to many more people.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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