Today’s readings center around the joy that comes from being in relationship with God. In the first reading, Isaiah describes the joy of the inhabitants of Jerusalem at being cared for by the city, which really means cared for by God.  Prosperity, comfort as of a child in its mother’s lap, health, etc., are promised to God’s people. The psalm continues this theme, as the author encourages the entire earth to rejoice in the wonderful deeds God has accomplished for His chosen ones. In the Gospel reading from Luke, we hear of Jesus sending seventy-two of His followers ahead of him to the places He intends to visit. They are to take nothing with them; they are to be totally dependent upon those who are willing to accept God’s message. When the seventy-two returned, they rejoiced in all that “they” had accomplished.  Jesus sets them straight, telling them that the reason for rejoicing is not because of what they accomplished (for it was God that accomplished it through them), but rather because their accomplishments demonstrate that they are in relationship with God and God was able to work through them.

This last point is important.  As followers of Jesus, we too are instructed to spread the news of God’s kingdom just as the seventy-two were sent. There are many ways in which we can do this; we all have our talents and abilities, and we all have instances where we succeed and where we fail.  In failure, we must not be judgmental, and in success we are encouraged to rejoice.  But we must give the ultimate credit to God for it is Him working through us; what we should be rejoicing in is the fact that our “names are written in heaven.”