14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) - 6 July 2025
6th July 2025
“Within the People of God, there is a specific mission awaiting each one. Because the needs of the ‘harvest’ are so great, all the members of God’s People must grow in the awareness of ‘being called.’” - Pope St John Paul II
Excerpt of the Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, St Peter's Square, Sunday 8 July 2007
"The Gospel today (cf. Lk 10: 1-12, 17-20) presents Jesus sending out 72 disciples to the villages He is about to visit in order to prepare the way. This is a particular feature of the Evangelist Luke, who stressed that the mission was not exclusive to the Twelve Apostles but extended also to the other disciples. Indeed, Jesus said: 'The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few' (Lk 10: 2).
"There is work for all in God's field.
"Christ, however, did not limit Himself to sending out His missionaries: He also gave them clear and precise instructions on how to behave.
"He first sent them out ‘two by two’ so that they might help each other and bear witness to brotherly love.
"He warned them that they would be like ‘lambs in the midst of wolves’.
"They were to be peaceful in spite of everything, and were to bear a message of peace in every situation; they were not to take clothes or money with them in order to live on whatever Providence offered them; they were to heal the sick as a sign of God's mercy; wherever people rejected them, they were to depart, doing no more than to alert them to their responsibility for rejecting the Kingdom of God.
"St Luke highlighted the disciples' enthusiasm at the good results of their mission and recorded Jesus' beautiful expression: ‘Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven’ (Lk 10: 20).
"May this Gospel reawaken in all the baptised the awareness that they are missionaries of Christ, called to prepare the way for Him with words and with the witness of their lives.
"In today's Gospel we are reminded that the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few. Let us all pray that the Lord of the Harvest will continue to bless His Church with confident and generous workers.
"May the Virgin Mary protect us always, both in our mission and in well-deserved rest, so that we may joyfully and fruitfully carry out our work in the Lord's vineyard."
Characteristics of a True Disciple of Christ
The Catechism defines a disciple this way: “The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1816).
When we examine our life can we state we absolute truth that we are being a true disciple of Christ?
How did Jesus define a disciple? Here are some of the characteristics He mentioned:
- A disciple must love Jesus even more than his immediate family. (Luke 14:26)
- A disciple requires self-denial, complete dedication, willing obedience, and total commitment – even unto death (Luke 14:27)
- A disciple surrenders everything for Jesus. (Luke 14:33)
- A disciple remains true to Jesus’ words and teachings. (John 8:31)
- A disciple loves others as Jesus has loved him. (John 13:34-35)
Do we put Jesus first in our life? Do we love Him above all others? Do we obey all His commandments? Do we give witness to Him every day in our words and deeds? Only when we can truthfully answer “Yes” to these questions can we hope to hear Jesus tell us, “I know you. You are My disciple, My friend. Your name is written in heaven.”
Discipleship Prayer (St Augustine of Hippo)
Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You, and desire nothing, save only You.
Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of You.
Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You.
Let me die to myself and live in You.
Let me accept whatever happens as from You.
Let me banish self and follow You, and ever desire to follow You.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You, that I may deserve to be defended by You.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear You, and let me be among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You.
Let me cling to nothing, save only to You, and let me be poor because of You.
Look upon me, that I may love You.
Call me, that I may see You, and for ever enjoy You. Amen. 💖🙏💐