You are part of God’s plan for the world

The Lord sent his 72 disciples to the towns and villages that he himself was to go. This reminds us how important our co-operation with Lord is in the work of evangelisation. The Lord continues to touch the world with his love and mercy but he needs us to prepare the way for others to meet him. The word of invitation asking someone to come to the summer festival or the weekly prayer-meeting is the continuation of the mission of the 72 in this Sunday’s Gospel. The Lord has chosen to invite us to be part of his relationship with the world.

Today we thank God for the many people who have touched our lives as Gospel people. Think of how the Lord has used people and situations to bring you closer to himself! At times these situations may have been painful and moments of weakness, but the Lord uses many ways in which to draw us deeper into the mystery of his love for us. Today we praise and thank him for them all.

He has also used us to bring others to him. We praise and thank him for the people and situations in which he has used us as instruments of his mission. Pope Benedict told the world on the day of his election:”The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me”. So this Sunday be comforted in your vocation as one of the 72.

In today’s Gospel the Lord asks us to pray for others to some and walk with us in this great mission of evangelisation. We ask the Lord to strengthen us in our resolve to lead other young people to the heart of the Church and to bless the work of Youth 2000 in Ireland especially as we prepare for the summer festival in August.