Like the 72 we are called to bear witness to God and the wondrous things God is doing in our lives. How do we give witness to Jesus? How do we prepare the way for people to receive Jesus into their hearts, homes, and lives? Answer: very simply, by the way we love one another. Saint Francis of Assisi said we are all called to be preachers, to make Jesus known. We are only to use words when we must. Our actions speak more loudly than our words ever could.

Jesus tells the disciples that though he is sending them out into a hostile world, they are to mingle with the people - not stand apart from them, but enter into their lives, eating and drinking with them and bringing with them the peace only Christ can offer. Proclaiming the Gospel is not another task that we must take on. It is not something extra that needs to be done, but is simply accomplished by the way we do the things we already are doing.

For this very reason Jesus instituted the Eucharist and left it as an everlasting memorial to strengthen and unite us so that we can be Jesus' eyes and arms and feet and tears and ears in the world today. With God's grace may we not only answer God's call and follow Jesus but may we also be willing to go wherever God may send us, to whomever God chooses, and proclaim our salvation in Christ by our lives, rejoicing that our names are inscribed in heaven.