Ordinary Time: (2nd Part)

1st. Reading   Is 66,10-14.

"Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for  her, all you who love her. Be glad with her, rejoice with her, all you who were in grief over her, 11 that you may suck of the milk from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply from the abundance of her glory." For this is what Yahweh says: I will send her peace, overflowing like a river; and the nations' wealth, rushing like a torrent towards her. And you will be nursed and carried in her arms and fondled upon her lap. As a son comforted by his mother, so will I comfort you. At the sight of this, your heart will rejoice; like grass, your bones will flourish. For it shall be known that Yahweh's hand is with his servant, but his fury is upon his enemy.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 66,1-3. 4-5. 6-7. 16. 20.

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; let me not be disgraced.
In your justice help me and deliver me, turn your ear to
me and save me!
Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
All the earth bows down to you,
making music in praise of you,
singing in honor of your name."
Come and see God's wonders,
his deeds awesome for humans.
He has turned the sea into dry land,
and the river was crossed on foot.
Let us, therefore, rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever,
his eyes keeping watch on the peoples,
his arm holding the rebels in check.
All you who fear God, come and listen;
let me tell you what he has done.
May God be blessed!
He has not rejected my prayer;
nor withheld his love from me.

2nd. Reading   Gal 6,14-18.

For me, I do not wish to take pride in anything except in the cross of Christ Jesus our Lord. Through him the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Let us no longer speak of the circumcised and of non-Jews, but of a new creation. Let those who live according to this rule receive peace and mercy: they are the Israel of God!  Let no one trouble me any longer: for my part, I bear in my body the marks of Jesus. May the grace of Christ Jesus our Lord be with your spirit brothers and sisters. Amen.

Gospel   Lk 10,1-12. 17-20.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know. Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: 'Peace to this house.' If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house. When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: 'The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'  But in any town where you are not welcome, go to the marketplace and proclaim: 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off and leave with you. But know and be sure that the kingdom of God had come to you.' I tell you that on the Judgment Day it will be better for Sodom than for this town. The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name." Then Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don't rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven."