First
Reading
Isaiah 66:10-14c
1. Christians have called the Hebrew scriptures “the Old Testament,” because of God’s many renewals of the covenant ( = testament) recorded there. That same covenant is the heart of the Christian bible, only now fulfilled in Jesus. It continues today. Do you think God’s love changed over all that time or is it the same? Why do you say so?
2. What treasure has the Church as well as the Synagogue received from God that gives her children great comfort? Does the “cross of the Lord Jesus Christ” from the Second Reading help you understand the depth of love “(As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms”) described in this reading?
Second Reading
Galatians 6:14-18
1. “For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision.” Some people wanted to follow the ancient practices. Paul did not. Can you relate to this kind of problem in your home? Your work? Your Church?
2. St. Paul looks at the circumcision arguments from the perspective of “the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Can you envision problems in today’s Church from the point of view of the cross? Standing vs. kneeling, women vs. men, inclusive language or not, what style of music is played?
Gospel
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9
1. One theory is that Jesus might have sent seventy-two disciples out because at the time there were seventy-two known nations. What would such symbolism mean in our times? Are you one of the people sent out?
2. Jesus sends us “like lambs to the wolves, without money, backpacks or sandals.” In what ways are you a laborer in this abundant harvest? What happens when a lamb meets a wolf? If you are the lamb, who are the wolves he sends you out to? Is there anything good about being without money?
