Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time C  July 4, 2010

Isaiah 66:10-14c  Psalm: 66 Gal 6:14-18 Luke 10:1-20

Theme: Make a difference in the lives of others

1. The G20 Summit is over. The dignitaries and the delegates have departed. The barricades will be brought down. Imagine Isaiah going down Queen Street with the message: “Rejoice, you will have prosperity like an overflowing river.” The owners of the banks, coffee shops and small businesses that have been vandalised would ask to have Isaiah taken away in a straight jacket. They are bothered about making up for lost business. They are concerned about who will pay for the damages.

 Isaiah says, "Rejoice you will be consoled.” That is hardly the feeling among the police who denounced protestors as criminals, or the protestors who want the chief of Police to resign. The situation is bleak and the mood is far from “rejoicing”.

 The people of Israel feel the same way about Isaiah and his message. They are weary, tired and dis-spirited after their long exile in Babylon and the long journey back. They arrive to find their temple, their houses, their shops and their streets, all destroyed.  Yet the message of the prophet is one of optimism based n God’s ability and desire to restore Israel. It will be back to its former glory. We all have great hopes when we play max-millions, but we have even greater knowledge that there is no chance of winning. However, God loves Israel and God will keep promises made – even in our present times. God’s promises will make a difference in the lives of the people of Israel.

2. A director in a Catholic Education system was speaking about the values of Catholic Education. He said that when he was entering High School, he had the opportunity to go to a prestigious school known for its good results and discipline. However as he looked at other schools, an ad caught his attention. He saw a picture of a child in Kenya holding a poster, which simply said, “Thank you, Neil McNeil High School.” The future director said, he chose Neil McNeil  in the blink of an eye. Education, results, prestige – these were all important, but “making a difference in the lives of others” was “the” thing that counted.

 Paul says the same in his letter to the Galatians. We have been reading this as the second reading for the last four Sundays. Keeping the law, being circumcised, holding Jewish traditions were good and important. But all this paled in significance when it came to the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. This brought about our salvation, which brought hope and joy. No matter what our difficulties, no matter what our struggles, no matter what our sins, the power of the cross would always win in the end. Everything Paul had, everything Paul did, everything Paul preached and proclaimed would be measured by the standard of the Cross. Believing in the Cross and Resurrection would make all the difference in our lives.

3. In the Gospel, Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The harvest is plentiful. Now the faithful needed care and support and encouragement. However the labourers are few. The disciples could make a difference in the lives of the faithful

who hungered and thirsted for the Word of God,

who desired peace and justice.

 The Apostles did make a difference. They preached, they healed, they cast out demons. Now they come home and rejoice. Jesus rejoices with them, as a young mother would rejoice with an excited child who comes from school, eager to tell all that has happened in the school. Now Jesus proceeds to make a difference in their lives. He tells them that the Kingdom of God has a different set of values as those of the world, when it comes to success.

 In our present society, we are a bunch of rugged individuals. What matters is “me, myself and I.” I will share only in so far as I get immediate and more returns. It is a matter of the survival of the fittest. It is a matter of succeeding at all cost.

The Kingdom according to Jesus lies in the opposite direction. The Kingdom of God is concerned with

loosing one’s life to save it.

It is being a servant to others, rather than lording it over them.

It is not individualism, but a community.

It is a matter of fitting into the Body of Christ, where everyone is important. Your value does not depend on the talents you have, the education you have earned, the number of cars you possess. Your value and uniqueness lies in how well you are united with the other members of the Body of Christ.

And so like Paul, we rejoice that we have been found worthy to bear the cross of Christ, so that one day we can wear the crown he wore.