Sent to Ease the Burdens

Some years ago, twenty women snuggled together around our church building one night because a local shelter had filled up early. At dawn, I went outside while they collected their belongings to tell them of our outreach resources. One woman quickly collected her possessions around her body, at first fearing my presence. She then blurted out at me, “Do you mean you are here to say something kind to us?”

Her fearful response reminds me of what the seventy-two must have encountered along the way. People needed time to listen and trust good news. They needed time to let go of fear that the new disciples might be robbers in the night or pretenders of good. Jesus sent the seventy-two with few possessions so they would have credibility among people who had few belongings and few defenses. 

We still witness to good even when darkness, war, poverty, and injustice all appear in lamb’s clothing. Love is easily lost under bright lights of hatred and evil ways. We are sent to ease the burdens of those who are weary, the houseless and jailed. We are sent among children in despair because of abuse and neglect, young-ones who have grown deaf to adults with good news.

Luke’s good news of Jesus Christ built a community of believers from those huddled against loss, unkindness, and the reality of poverty. Jesus Christ whispers in our ears to live in love–and Luke still shows us the beauty of God’s Kingdom on earth.       

Fr. Ronald Patrick Raab

Fr. Ronald Patrick Raab, CSC serves as religious superior at Holy Cross House, a medical and retirement facility at Notre Dame, Indiana. He is a retreat director, award-winning author, and visual artist. Learn more at ronaldraab.com.

I am grateful for the invitation to write for Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN.