By Deacon Thomas G. Davis

There are events in our lives that make lasting impressions on us. In my own life, an event took place many years ago when I was beginning my journey to the diaconate. There were 12 of us in our first year of the program. This was a year of discerning our faith and our personal relationship with God.

Father James Tahaney, now deceased, was the director of the Diaconate Formation Program. One night in class, he posed a question of how we would go about bringing the love of God to those we come in contact with at home, in the workplace or in the parish. The discussion went on for a while and can best be described by Frank Sinatra’s lyrics, “I did it my way.”

But is my way God’s way?

Father Tahaney said that in order to bring the love of God to those to whom we will be ministering, we have to “Let go and let God.”

Let God Shine Through

Those five words sound very nice, but at the same time, are very challenging because they challenge the minister to let the love of God shine through them to the people to whom we will be ministering, starting with our families, into the workplace and the parish.

In today’s Gospel this is exactly what the 72 disciples were asked to do. This is important because Luke is the only evangelist that has two different, but similar sendings. First, he sent His Apostles to minister to the people they would come in contact with and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Now he is sending His disciples. They had been with Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem and maybe even before, and had been taught by Him not only in word, but also in action. They had firsthand experience of His love and now they were being sent to prepare the people for Jesus’ coming to their towns on His journey to Jerusalem.

Sent Forth in Faith

They travelled in twos, took nothing with them except their faith in this man, Jesus. Through their faith, they were successful in their journey. They let the love of Jesus shine through themselves to the point of being able to cure the sick in the name of Jesus.

As today’s Gospel goes on to tell us, the disciples returned very joyful in the results of their mission. They knew, even though the Scripture does not say it directly, that the love of God flowed through them to those with whom they came in contact.

Just as Jesus sent out His Apostles and disciples – or to put it another way, His sacramental priesthood and royal priesthood – to prepare the people for His coming, so too today, He is sending each of us out to bring His message of love and salvation.

Called to the Vineyard

In doing so, He reminds us that the laborers are few. The laborers we first think about are the bishops, priests, deacons and religious brothers and sisters. Yes, these numbers are going down. A few weeks ago we ordained 10 men to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. We need, as we always have, the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ to also go out and let the love of God shine through us to all of God’s children.

Remember that Jesus’ Apostles and disciples after His death on Calvary continued to bring the message of love to those to whom they ministered.

Jesus wants you to be His disciples today, to let His love shine through you to those you come in contact with at work, in the parish or perhaps even in your family. All we have to do is “let go and let God.”

Readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 66:10-14c

Psalm 66: 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

Galatians 6:14-18 Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20 or

Luke 10:1-9

Deacon Thomas G. Davis is a permanent deacon who serves at St. Anselm Church, Bay Ridge.