Continuing the Mission

“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” “Love God and love your neighbor.”
When the disciples return from their missionary journey they report their experiences and success to the Lord. Christ tells them not to rejoice so much that the demons are subject to them, but rather that their “names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10: 20)

The Lord, inspired by the Holy Spirit, goes on to pray and thank his Heavenly Father, that the mysteries of God are revealed to the “little ones”, and not to the “wise and the learned.” This statement teaches us that the work of God is beyond our understanding and that we are privileged to be workers in the Kingdom of God.

Christ reminds his apostles that they are privileged to have these things explained to them, and to see the workings of God. This introduces a discussion about the “greatest commandment” to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself, which concludes with the “Parable of the Good Samaritan”. The love of God and the love of neighbor are the kernel of our moral life. We witness by loving God and our neighbor as ourselves.
 
Reflection Questions:

• What is important about being a worker in the Kingdom of God?
• What is the difference between our work and the work of God?
• Why does Christ rejoice that the mysteries of God are revealed to the merest children, and not to the wise and learned?