When Jesus sends out his 72 (or 70, in some translations) two by two, lay people should pay attention, says Father Roger Landry.
“A short time earlier, Jesus had sent out the 12 apostles, those who would become his first priests,” he says. “But to share the Gospel was not meant to be the task of priests alone. So he appointed 72 — probably the twelve apostles and 60 of whom we would call today lay people — and sent them out to the neighboring towns and villages.”
The sending of the 72 begins Chapter 10 in in Luke, which is all about the laity, including the Good Samaritan and Martha and Mary, and I love what it has to say.
First, I love that by sending 72, Jesus is sending everybody.
In 1995, at the World Youth Day in Manila — one of the largest gatherings of human beings in history — Pope John Paul II said that “the Christian laity share in Christ’s mission,” then listed exactly who he had in mind:
- “the fathers and mothers of families, old people, young people and children;”
- “simple people and those who are highly educated;”
- “people who till the soil, factory workers, engineers, technicians, doctors, nurses and healthcare personnel;”
- “teachers, men and women in the legal professions, and those who serve in public life;”
- “writers, people who work in the theater and cinema and the media, artists, musicians, sculptors and painters;”
- “university professors, scientists, specialists in every field, and people in the world of culture.”
And in case he missed anyone, he ended by saying: “Every baptized person has a part in Christ’s mission,” then asked 4 million people: “Do you all understand that?”
Second, I love that Jesus wants us each to work with a friend.
Jesus acknowledges that he is sending us out “like lambs among wolves,” so he sends us in pairs. You can think of Biblical pairs from Moses and Aaron to Paul and Silas, or historical pairs from Cicero and Atticus to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
You can also see how “one plus one” adds up to more than two in fictional friendships from Heidi and Clara and Elizabeth and Jane Bennett to Sherlock Holmes and Watson and my personal favorites, Frodo and Sam.
Their friendship works the way friendship is supposed to work: Two people sticking with each other through thick and thin not because they are forced to, but because you couldn’t force them not to.
Sam’s flaws are obliterated by his loyalty, and Frodo’s weakness late in the game is made up early on. Neither of them could have done it alone, but together they achieve greatness. That is how it works when you travel into the heart of darkness with a friend.
Third, I like that Jesus implicitly includes another kind of pair: spouses.
When my daughter got married, the priest delivered my favorite wedding homily.
“When Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the good news, he sent them two by two,” he said. “You are also sent as two by the sacrament of marriage to preach the gospel, and bear witness with your lives.”
I like that image of my wife April and me, sent by Jesus like lambs among wolves, bearing witness to his truth in the world.
At marriage prep last weekend, we shared about the early days of marriage when we had to budget for enough to eat. We were like the couple Tanya Tucker describes facing the world “Like two sparrows in a hurricane / Trying to find their way / With a head full of dreams /And faith that can move anything.”
The two messages Jesus wants the 72 to deliver are “Peace to this household” and “The kingdom of God is at hand for you.”
These are two messages that every married couple can stand witness to after uniting in Christ and facing the challenges of a shared life.
Fourth, I love that Jesus gives us “permission” to celebrate spiritual victories.
Last, this Gospel story ends with some of my favorite verses in the Bible. The disciples come back practically high-fiving each other about the success of their mission, and not only does Jesus not stop them — he joins in.
“Even the demons are subject to us because of your name!” they boast. He agrees, and says he saw Satan himself “fall like lightning from the sky.”
We don’t have to be falsely humble about winning souls for Christ. Those victories are true victories, causing wild rejoicing in heaven. Shouldn’t we join in?
