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(2Tm.4:9-17;\xa0\xa0 Ps.145:10-13,17-18;\xa0\xa0 Lk.10:1-9) \xa0 \u201cThe Lord stood by my side and gave me strength, so that through me the preaching task might be completed and all the nations might hear the Gospel.\u201d \xa0 As I read of Jesus\u2019 instruction to the disciples as He \u201csent them in pairs before Him to every town and place He intended to visit,\u201d and particularly His words to them to \u201ceat what they set before you,\u201d I am reminded of the command given Peter in his dream to \u201ctake and eat\u201d of the unclean animals (Acts 10:13), this just before the first Gentile converts came to him seeking the Word of God.\xa0 And, of course, similar terminology is present in Jesus\u2019 sending his workers as if into a harvest: in this case, the Lord shall eat of the feast the disciples are sent forth to prepare. We know our work is our food, that the labor the Lord imparts to us serves as our daily bread.\xa0 And we know that the wheat that becomes His precious Body and the Word that is cultivated by His apostles, by His preachers and prophets, is the food that sustains us, that strengthens us for our daily tasks.\xa0 All we do must be blessed by Him and be, as it were, a \u201cdiscourse of the glory of [His] kingdom,\u201d and His kingdom, which is \u201ca kingdom for all ages,\u201d and His dominion, which \u201cendures through all generations,\u201d shall become known in our midst. It is not easy to eat of this food, to drink of this cup.\xa0 We see how alone Paul finds himself in our first reading.\xa0 \u201cEveryone abandoned me,\u201d he declares in reference to his trial before the courts of this world.\xa0 He pleads with Timothy to join him soon, for many have left his side: \u201cI have no one with me but Luke.\u201d\xa0 Indeed, he has nothing but the Word of God.\xa0 And most apparent in the Lord\u2019s instruction to His disciples is the utter reliance on God we must find.\xa0 Impoverished He sends them forth, dependent only on their preaching and healing to feed themselves.\xa0 Yes, He sends them forth \u201cas lambs in the midst of wolves.\u201d\xa0 Not a happy prospect.\xa0 But they have the Word of the Lord to make them strong and protect them from all evil of this world, and nothing could be more sure than this. Into so many homes Luke\u2019s gospel has come, bringing its peace to all who abide in the Lord.\xa0 The proclamation by this great evangelist that \u201cthe reign of God is at hand\u201d comes to our hearts even this day.\xa0 Let us make room for this Word within ourselves and it shall feed us on our journey to the kingdom, and by its grace we shall complete our work on this earth.\xa0 May the word of the Lord go ever forth. \xa0 Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. \xa0 Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. \xa0 ******* O LORD, send forth your laborers to declare the glory of your kingdom to all nations.\xa0 YHWH, send forth workers into your harvest, that all might hear your Word preached to their souls and find your peace in their hearts.\xa0 Your reign be upon us this day. O LORD, your kingdom endures through all generations; to your glory there is no end.\xa0 O let us share in your holiness, let us share in your glory! and let us share your glory with all souls on the face of this earth.\xa0 Though we must stand alone as has Paul, though we might be rejected by those to whom we come, yet let us be faithful to your Word and with great strength and confidence accomplish your will. You are our strength, O LORD, and you are our peace; send us forth in your Name to preach and to heal.\xa0 Let your kingdom come into our midst through your blessed disciples, who speak only of your glory, who find refuge in your might.\xa0 Nothing do we need if we have you, LORD.\xa0 Please stand at our side.