In the Gospel, we hear that Jesus “appointed seventy-two disciples and sent them ahead of him, two by two” (Lk 10:1). This is no random detail. Jesus does not send them out alone. He sends them together, forming a community of mission. Why? Because the Gospel is not proclaimed through isolation or competition, but through communion and fraternity. When we walk together, love one another, and forgive one another, we reflect the face of Jesus – the face of God. Evangelisation begins not with strategies, but with how we live together.
The Lord suggests to us a guideline for our preaching: Our encounters must begin with a wish of peace! “Peace to this house.” This peace is not merely a polite greeting. It is the peace of Christ — the peace that reconciles, that heals, that welcomes. And the message of the Kingdom begins right there: not with complicated speeches, but with the gift of peace and the witness of fraternal love.
The Gospel reminds us that Jesus called not only the Twelve, but seventy-two others. He continues to call today. Every baptised person is called to be an apostle — that is, one who is sent. As we profess in the Creed, the Church is apostolic, and each of us is part of that apostolic mission. We are sent — into our homes, our workplaces, our communities — to carry the love of God.
So let us ask: How do we live our mission? Do we walk with others, or do we isolate ourselves? Are we agents of peace, or do we bring tension? Do we witness communion or division?
When disciples walk together, they preach the Gospel first with their lives. Their ability to journey side by side, to share burdens, to forgive one another’s faults, and to remain united despite their differences—this speaks even louder than words. That is why Jesus sends them in pairs. Not to be more productive, but to be more credible.
Today, we are reminded that mission is not a solo adventure. It is not about great strategies, nor about dazzling rhetoric or perfect pastoral plans. We can have the best ideas, the latest tools, and draw crowds—but if we lack fraternity, if we cannot collaborate with others, if we put ourselves at the centre, the mission loses its heart. It becomes a performance, not a proclamation.
Let us look at our own lives. How do we live our faith in community? Are we able to work together, to listen to one another, to make room for others’ gifts and viewpoints? Or do we let competition, pride, or impatience creep in?
May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Apostles, help us walk this path—not as isolated individuals, but as companions in mission. May we prepare the way for Jesus by being a sign of his love in how we live, together.
Amen.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
