Whatever the Weather

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, July 6th, 2025:
​Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Luke
​10.1-9

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.

"Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another.

"Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

It’s unsettling out there, folks. There’s war, civil unrest, askew politics, and a tanking economy. I’ve been commiserating too much about the price of groceries, my bank account, and the state of the world. Non-productive, mind you – but an attempt to hunker down with others who are weathering the same inclemency.

There are times to move and times to stay put, but lately I’ve realized my want for security is taking an unhealthy turn. Today’s gospel reminds me of what is really important. As author Stephen Covey would say, “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.”

The main thing is Jesus, and today, He is sending us a missional memo through Luke, reminding us that the work of God is always the first work that needs to be done. There is no movement, threat, politics, or financial gain that displaces this primary goal. Whatever the weather, He’s always up for fishing and drawing the catch to Himself.

Three thoughts come to mind.

First, watch season 3, episode 2 of The Chosen. It depicts today’s gospel when Jesus asks the disciples to go out like “lambs amongst wolves” with no “money bag, sack or sandals.” The bewilderment on the disciples’ faces is so relatable, and I find it helpful to remember it was hard for even the disciples to be sent out. Sometimes, if we do not feel brave, we are asked to find courage. We need not be brash, self-reliant, or unwise in our ministries or beliefs, but docile and dependent on the Lord and His grace. 

Second, carrying the peace of God does not always mean all will be peaceful. Things around us might be unsettling. But the peace of Christ goes with us despite those things. We go about the business of Jesus in good faith. We move toward receptivity, retreat gently from hostility, and continue to trust.

Lastly, Saint John Paul II comes vividly to mind. In the conflict of WWII, he was smart about his choices, reliant on grace, and never Christ-compromising. From evading kidnapping by working in a quarry, to attending seminary in secret, he always remembered what was most important, no matter how concerning his surroundings got. He made moral, courageous, and clever moves to maintain the mission of Jesus, and he even discovered his own vocation despite “the great and terrible theatre of war” existing around him.

Perplexing times need not distract us from the main thing, for we never know what will, or will not, come to pass. During these times, great fruit can be borne because of how quickly we’re reminded of what really matters. So blessed are we, because we know our purpose, Whose we are, and where we are going. Whatever is forecast, we are always about the Lord’s work, bringing others to Christ.




Michelynne Gomez

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