Isaiah 66:10-14 / Galatians 6:14-18 / Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
We have heard of the Seven Wonders of the world, or to be exact, the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
Of these seven wonders of the ancient world, only one remained, and that is the Great Pyramids in Egypt.
The other six wonders exist only as drawings of artists’ imagination.
Following after the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now there are more wonders.
So, there are wonders of the modern world, wonders of the technological world, the wonders of the scientific world, the wonders of the industrial world.
While each may be a wonder of its own, the common factor about all of them is that they are man-made.
Mankind, as well as individuals of the human race, have this tendency to make a name for themselves, as well as to leave a legacy behind.
Even though they came into this world with nothing, and will leave this world with nothing, yet somehow, they want to leave something behind.
Some want to conquer and build empires so that their names will be remembered.
Some want to be ultra rich and have buildings and businesses named after them.
Some want to be popular and famous, so that their names will be echoed into the future.
In the end, it is about wanting to make a name for themselves, so as to be remembered.
But like the wonders of the ancient world, or even like the wonders of this present world, it will be a name without a memory, and a name without a legacy.
In the gospel, Jesus sent 72 disciples out for mission as labourers in the Lord's harvest.
The 72 disciples were not named, but we know what they were told to do.
They were to bring peace to whatever house they go into.
They were to cure the sick and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
The disciples came back rejoicing and reported to Jesus that even the devils submit to them when they call upon His name.
Jesus affirmed them, and then He said: Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you. Rejoice rather than your names are written in heaven.
The disciples did wonderful work, but they could also be tempted to be a wonder in themselves, and make a name for themselves.
What is important is not to make a name for ourselves on earth.
Jesus will write our names in heaven when we do what He tells us.
Like the 72 disciples, we are to bring the peace of Jesus to wherever we go.
For those in pain and suffering, we bring comfort and healing with the power of the Good News of God's Kingdom.
And we have to believe that this peace and power are already given to us by Jesus.
We just have to be what He wants us to be, and we don't have to try too hard to be wonderful.
There is a story of the wind having a discussion with the sun about who is stronger.
The wind saw a man with a coat, and the wind said to the sun: I will blow the coat off the man.
So, the wind blew with all its might, but the more it blew, the tighter the man clung on to his coat.
So, the wind gave up and said to the sun: Now you try to take off his coat.
Without a word, the sun just shined brightly, and the man felt warm, and so he naturally took off his coat.
Very often, we just have to believe who we are because of Jesus who is with us, and we will naturally bring peace to others.
We are like a lighted candle. We don't have to tell others we are shining.
It is enough to be the light of Christ shining in the darkness, and bringing peace and hope for others.
A priest asked a parishioner, what does she expect of the Church.
Her reply is this: I want a simple and a quiet Church, a Church where I can pray and be at peace, a Church where I am strengthened by the gentle power of Jesus Christ.
Let us be that Church, a Church of peace and prayer, a Church that is like a lighted candle shining quietly in the darkness.
A Church that is wonderful because we proclaim the name of Jesus.