Thursday of Week 26 in Ordinary Time
Job 19:21-27
Lk 10:1-12
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out…
Today’s Gospel spoke to me in a way it never previously had.
In my previous readings, I always took away the message that we are all called to do God’s work, trust and believe in Him, and do whatever He tells us to. The message always felt simple.
This passage speaks to me slightly differently now. It is simple, but challenging to follow. The Gospel passage does not mention what the seventy-two were doing before being called. Most of them must have been living their daily lives with their routines. They must have been preoccupied with caring for their families and earning their livelihoods. With the Lord’s calling to go out, this must have thrown their plans awry, not to mention that this ‘sending-out’ depended entirely on the generosity of others and exposed them to potential danger and rejection. What was being asked of them was hard; and it must have been difficult.
I left my corporate work at the end of May this year, fully intending to take a three-month break before I moved on to another career. I wanted to do what I enjoyed and have the flexibility to do what I wanted — travel, spend time with my loved ones, cook, or indulge in my diverse interests. I am looking forward to this change.
During my break, I was asked to consider working in a different area involving some aspect of service. If I were to take this path, it would mean setting aside my plans for the next few years, if not permanently. This troubled me, and my gut reaction was to reject this option immediately.
What would have happened had the seventy-two men (and all those subsequently called) rejected our Lord? Would there be anyone left to do the actual work?
I brought these concerns with me on a recent trip to Ipoh and Penang, where we visited churches. There, we got to spend time in the churches and view relics of St John Paul II, St Anthony of Padua, St Theresa of Lisieux, St Anne, and the Vietnamese martyrs, just to name a few. Spending time in the presence of these churches and relics, it hit me that our time on earth is only a fraction of our lives, and that it is only during this time that we can contribute.
While it is not certain that that is the path I would take, I am now open to the life of service. I am willing to be called, and I am willing to place my faith that my God will lead me where I go. I pray that we will all always be open to the Spirit and allow ourselves to be led.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)
Prayer: Father God, I pray that You may give us the strength and faith to be led by You, to go where we need to go. Allow us to lead our lives courageously.
Thanksgiving: Thank You for being with us, Father, no matter what circumstances we go through. We are thankful for Your love.
OXYGEN 
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