“Go.” (Luke 10:3)
Have you ever heard the story about the Greek mathematician Archimedes? He was so excited about a scientific breakthrough that he noticed during his bath time that he ran into the streets naked, shouting “Eureka!” (which is Greek for “I found it!”). Archimedes was so excited that he sprinted outside to spread his good news—without a single thought about what people would think of him.
Many of us have had our own eureka moments—that exhilarating instant when we were struck by the depth and breadth of God’s love for us. The joy and excitement we felt were so intense that we wanted to tell everyone. But then time passes, and the demands of our day-to-day lives push the moment, and the excitement, to the back of our minds.
Today’s Gospel reading offers us a perfect opportunity not only to rediscover that eureka but also to let that excitement send us out as ambassadors for God. The news is so good, and God’s love is so powerful, that you just can’t keep it to yourself: God has fulfilled his promise of salvation! That is so much more exciting than Archimedes’ mathematical discovery!
Jesus wants us to hurry off to spread the good news—with-out bothering to bring a purse or bag—to all who will listen. He tells us we don’t have to worry about food or money or even what people may think of us. He’ll take care of us if we just go out and proclaim his good news. Neither is there time for idle chat or for staying too long in a place where the people aren’t listening. He wants us to get the news out as fast and as far as we can.
In your prayer today, God wants to help you discover even more deeply the joy of your salvation. He wants to take the fire within you and make it burn even more brightly. God has great things in store for his people, and he has chosen you to tell them about it.
“Thank you, Lord, for filling me with so much love and mercy! Come and deepen your joy within me so that I can go through my day eager to spread your gospel. Here I am, Lord; send me!”
Job 19:21-27, Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14