Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20

In the first part of Isaiah 66, we hear about God’s judgement over people who don’t observe the Laws given by God. Those who are not humble and don’t follow these laws, are a huge disappointment for God.
However, God doesn’t give up on them. There is hope for a change of heart, for a new Jerusalem with people who will be God’s delight.
The peace and harmony are expressed with the unbelievable example of the “wolf and the lamb will feed together”. Nothing is impossible for God.

This perspective of hope and new beginning is the background of the exclamation of rejoice and the celebration of peace for Jerusalem. It is a new beginning of care, support and love – as given by a mother who nurtures her child.

Isaiah refers to God’s Laws given to the Israelites. In Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, he proclaims the new Law which is based on Jesus’ Death and Resurrection.
The Galatians had settled in an area which was then part of Greece. In Paul’s time, Galatia had become a province of the Roman Empire. They were not Jewish, and as the early Christians were Jewish, the question arose to how much the Mosaic Law had to be observed as a foundation for the followers of Christ.

Paul is clear. Some rules like circumcision are not as important as believing in Jesus, His love for all and Him dying on the Cross.
Paul is aware that the Galatians are being approached by people who ask them to be circumcised so that they can boast about abiding by the Mosaic Law. Paul tells them not to follow these instructions. Just because someone is circumcised, doesn’t mean that this person would be considered faithful to the Law.
New times have come. Things have changed. Jesus has been crucified for the whole world. His marks and wounds are also visible on Paul. These are wounds of love. As Paul told the Galatians earlier, the new law is about what Jesus had called the greatest commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself” – and about the fruit of the Spirit as a foundation of any law: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.

After Jesus had called the Twelve whom he gave the power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases, He now appoints six times as many men to go before him. The 72 men who were chosen are to go in pairs and to offer their work for the harvest. Just like it applied to the apostles, Jesus didn’t want them to take anything: “no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.”
Why are they not allowed to salute someone on the road? Would this be a distraction to their mission or a danger to their lives?

Isaiah’s picture is used to describe what the 72 can expect: they will be like lambs among wolves. However, if the audience knows the Scriptures, the reference to Isaiah will be clear which will give hope for peace and harmony as for God the “wolf and the lamb will feed together”. The ultimate sign of peace.

The instructions to the 72 chosen men for their mission are very detailed: the first words are to be “Peace to this house!” If the man who lives there is a man of peace, the greeting will lead to the peace resting on him. If he is not a man of peace, the peace offered in the salutation will return to the worker.

The men are also asked to be humble. If they travel and come to any households that are not Jewish, they shouldn’t be afraid and not eat or drink what is offered to them. They come as workers, have the best intentions, and will work. If they are received well, the host will gain a worker who not only adapts but also cures those who are sick in the household.
However, if the men are not welcomed, they are not asked to fight or to start an argument or to convert anybody. They are asked to leave and wipe off the dust that might cling on their shoes.

When the men hear these instructions, they must be relieved. They are not asked to warn the people like many prophets of the Old Testament were asked to do. They are not asked to return to a place where they were not welcomed.
They don’t come as prophets but as proclaimer of the Good News. If they are not appreciated, if their work is despised, God doesn’t want them to waste their energy on people who don’t like them. There are many other places they can go to where they are welcomed. Not only are they asked to look for a new place to work, preach and heal people, but they are also asked to clear their shoes of any dust that is connected to a place where they were not welcomed.

Without knowing, the 72 were given the power to cast out devils, but this power is not a power to boast about. It is rather a power that keeps them safe. So that they can continue doing good in the name of God.

We are all on our own journey. Do we recognise the workers of God’s harvest? Do we make them welcome – or do we make them shake off the dust that clings to their shoes and to leave?

BM