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. The Lord’s appointing of the
seventy-two may appear as a kind of selection, which it is to a certain extent.
He chose those whom he felt were ready. The
harvest is abundant but the labourers are few (v. 2). This verse is often
quoted to stress the need for vocations to the priesthood or to religious life
but it holds meaning for all of us. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God is not
the prerogative of the priests, brothers or sisters. It is part and parcel of
our Christian identity. By virtue of our baptism, we are called to proclaim the
Kingdom of God. So the call is universal but the manner and capacity in which
we carry it out differs. Some carry it out as priests, others as consecrated
brothers or sisters, others as members of families and still others as single
men or women. St. Paul writes to the Ephesians about the diversity of callings
within the Christian vocation: As for his
gifts, to some he gave to be apostles, to others prophets, or even evangelists,
or pastors and teachers. So he prepared those who belong to him for the
ministry, in order to build up the Body of Christ (4: 11-12).
Cl Ian Pinto sdb
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