Dear Preachers:

With all the grief and stress in the world, it’s hard to join the prophet Isaiah in his exultation: "Rejoice with Jerusalem… Exult, exult with her."

Today’s news tells of two hospitals bombed in Gaza and Iran. Starving people in Gaza are rioting as food supplies dwindle under blockade. It's hard to look at images of hungry children, arms outstretched with empty bowls, hoping for something – anything – from the restricted aid trickling through.

Yet Isaiah, writing six centuries before Christ, describes a Jerusalem filled with peace, joy, security, and abundance. That was not the reality for his listeners. They were a battered people, just returned from exile in Babylon. The prophet wasn’t blind to their hardships. He was trying to stir their hope and inspire them to rebuild their lives, their community, and their faith.

It would have taken much to lift the spirits of a downcast people returning from exile. Isaiah seeks to help them by envisioning a glorious future. He speaks of God’s love as the love of a parent for a child: "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. In Jerusalem you shall find your comfort." Jerusalem, once ruined, will be forgiven and restored – a prophetic sign of God’s power and compassion.

Israel had sinned and was taken into captivity. Now, Isaiah proclaims God’s forgiveness and abiding love. That same love is what Jesus, in today’s Gospel, is sending his disciples to proclaim to the world: God's love for all people. They are to be ambassadors of God’s peace. As we take in the many conflicts of today’s world, we pray for God to raise up messengers of peace – beginning with us.

Jesus gives his disciples a prophetic task like Isaiah’s. And just as it was difficult for the prophet, so it will be for them. "I am sending you like lambs among wolves," he warns. Their success won't come from their own cleverness or resources. Jesus instructs them: "Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals." In Greek, it adds: "Greet no one along the way."

This might sound harsh, even rude. But in that culture, greetings could be time-consuming, involving formal rituals. Jesus is telling them not to delay. Their task is urgent: to proclaim the immediacy of God’s reign, to announce that God’s forgiving and healing presence is now among the people.

The disciples are to be signs of this presence. Wherever they go, they bring peace: "Into whatever house you enter, say first, ‘Peace to this house.’" Their presence, words, and actions are to embody the reconciliation God offers through Jesus.

And yet, none of this mission can be accomplished by human effort alone. How many of us have been called to be peacemakers – perhaps in our own families, among alienated friends, or in divided communities? That work begins not with prepared speeches, or carefully crafted points, but with prayer.

Luke emphasizes that prayer is essential for Jesus’ followers. Jesus himself prayed constantly: at his baptism (3:21), before choosing the Twelve (6:12), before Peter’s confession (9:18), and many other times. He told his disciples: "Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all things" (21:36). Prayer was his source of discernment, strength, and communion with God. It must be ours too.

Today’s passage shows the effect of prayer. When the disciples return, their joy is overflowing. In Jesus’ name, following his instructions, they experienced success. But Jesus cautions them not to be dazzled by sensational results. Their true joy doesn’t come from what they accomplish, but from who they are: "Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to you, but that your names are written in heaven."

We just celebrated our freedom on July 4^th. We want our nation to be like the city on the hill that Isaiah describes, where the lost and needy will find rest. That seems to be a partially fulfilled dream with just too many exceptions to the rule! God isn’t only concerned about fulfilling that dream in the next life. Rather, the prophets and Jesus want this time, place and this nation to reflect the reign of God. God’s rule is manifested whenever: we respect one another and try to live in loving relationships; work to bring about justice; reflect in words and deeds the image of our loving God. That’s a tall order, especially considering our bellicose national situation. But a small place to begin would be to make the first words we speak be, "Peace to this household." We could say it in those words or, to be more "practical and realistic," we could say it in other words by: not returning violence with violence; doing our best to diffuse anger and hatred; treating all people equally; respecting the rights of both the well-established and the newcomer; working to make neighborhoods and communities less violent; protecting the abused and the ridiculed.

There are an infinite number of ways to say, "Peace to this household." We follow Jesus’ guidance today and first pray that the Spirit accompany us to the places we are sent to announce the reign of God. We ask the Spirit to help us announce and be "Peace."

Bottom line: Our deepest joy is that God has accepted us – we belong to Christ. Prayer is our source of strength, humility, and guidance. It is the lifeblood of discipleship.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070625.cfm