14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
06th July 2025
Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66(65):1,4-7a,16,20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20 or 10:1-9
The reading of the Word of God in the liturgy of this 14th Sunday of Ordinary time teaches us that God speaks to us in multiple ways. We cannot claim to exhaust its meaning nor assume that we have understood it definitively. As Jewish tradition says, the Word tells us “Darsheni” – seek me. That is, the search for understanding the Word must be continuous and its meaning is inexhaustible. An explanation may be a possibility, but never the whole. The expression: the “70 faces of the Torah” means its infinity.
The text of Isaiah (66:10-14), which from a perspective of concluding God’s project for humanity, focuses on Jerusalem as the centre of the Creator’s action and the model of his relationship with his people. Jerusalem, as the place of His dwelling, is the centrality from which all humanity will be included: “Behold, I will bring peace upon Jerusalem like a river and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream” (Is 66:12).
Psalm (66) sings to God as the sole Creator of all that exists and once again contemplates all humanity. The faith tradition of Israel affirms the uniqueness of God not only for Israel, but the God who reveals himself to Israel is the God of all peoples. The Psalm, a Jewish prayer par excellence, sings the praises of God and integrates all Nations. Israel is God’s vehicle for humanity, bearing witness to His presence in His Sanctuary (Temple) in Jerusalem.
Paul, in his letter to the Galatians (6:14-18) speaks of the imminence of time. God’s hour has come. It is time for the nations to be included in God’s promises, of which Israel is the depositary. The mystery of the incarnation, death and resurrection of Jesus demonstrates the completion of God’s plan for all humanity. God’s covenant with Israel, through Jesus, a Jewish man, God made flesh, includes all humanity. Circumcision remains necessary and valid for the Jew, because he is the good tree and the nations are associated (grafted) to it (in Israel), without undergoing circumcision. For the nations, circumcision or uncircumcision is not important. This new reality established by the death and resurrection of Jesus, demands that they abandon the gods and their practices and recognise the God who reveals himself to Israel, the God of Jesus Christ as the Unique God and there is no other.
The Gospel (Luke 10:1-20) reflects the beginning of the communities of Jesus’ followers. These are the first steps to spread the Word of God in the name of Jesus. The world is hostile. It is a world full of gods, false gods (demons), but it fills people’s lives. It is like walking among wolves.
The idea of going in twos does not mean arithmetic, one plus one, but it means that the announcement is not made in isolation, but in community. The Word of God happens in relationships. It is revealed to the people and must be transmitted in community. This gives meaning to going in twos, that is, in community. And once again, time is pressing: the Kingdom of God is at the door. It is necessary for the people to hear and know the Word of God. In this sense, the followers of Jesus fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah: “The Torah goes out from Zion, and the word of God from Jerusalem” (Is 2:3). The word remains current and continues to challenge us: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Luke 10:2). If we scrutinise the Word of God, we learn that all of the readings of today are like a single box (the Word of God) where everything resonates within.
The Holy Scripture is all connected; it forms a necklace (hariza). Therefore, without integrating the tradition of Israel into the understanding of the New Testament, it will be devoid of meaning, like a tree without roots.
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Bro. Elio Passeto, NDS Jerusalem-Israel, Director
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