Jesus' Pastoral Plan
Dear brothers and sisters
The Gospel on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time from St. Luke gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ pastoral vision about Shalom often translated as “peace.” But Shalom is more than just the absence of conflict. It’s the deep peace of God. It is a peace that brings healing, reconciliation, and wholeness, both within us and around us. It is the fullness of God’s original design for creation. In today’s gospel, Jesus shares two key ideas and offers us a clear sense of direction, of visions, goals, and practical guidance that still speak to us today.
The Vision of Shalom
Jesus’ vision of peace echoes the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah: Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent…in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. (Isaiah 66:12).
Originally, these were words of comfort for the Jewish people returning home from exile in Babylon. And today, they are a promise for all of us. They are a vision of Shalom flowing like a river that never runs dry. A peace that nourishes what is dry, heals what is wounded and renews what is weary. Jesus came to make Shalom a reality – and for that he was killed.
Martyrs for Peace
There were many others who dedicated their lives for true peace: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, or Malala Yousafzai, a strong young women from Pakistan, who continues actively engage in peace and education efforts in Pakistan. Or Desmond Tutu (+ 2022), who spent his life working for Shalom in South Africa, restoring dignity and hope to his people. Tutu also named the painful truth about the darker side of mission history. He once said: “When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, ‘Let us pray.’ We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land.”
A powerful reminder that true mission is never about conquest or control—but about sharing Shalom.
Why is Shalom still so difficult?
Dear friends, why is Shalom so difficult? So often, we struggle with an inner turmoil. We run from ourselves, afraid of what we might find in the quiet. And yet, it is in that silence that God longs to give us His peace. His peace brings balance to our inner world. And from there, it flows into our relationship.
Shalom for all nations
This is why Jesus sends out 72 disciples. 72 is not just a number. According to the biblical table of nations in Genesis 10, it’s the symbol for the 72 nations: Shalom is meant for all peoples. No one is left out. Jesus calls his disciples to carry Shalom into the world, to go before him and prepare the way for God’s kingdom. A kingdom that is already close at hand.
Guidelines for Shalom bearers
Jesus gives his disciples guideline: “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.” That means to travel light and to let go of anything that weighs us down or holds us back from sharing Shalom. And when Jesus says, “And greet no one along the way” (Luke 10:4), he’s not calling us to be impolite. He’s urging us to stay focused. Those who stay centered in God’s Shalom learn to recognize what is genuine and not be swayed by what only appears kind.
Shalom as a healing process
The kingdom of God is near. Shalom is near. And it begins within you, in your heart, your thoughts, and in the way you live. Whoever walks with Christ steps into this healing journey.
With Luke's Gospel:
Be a messenger of Shalom. Just live God’s peace, wholeness, and reconciliation. Because Shalom is God’s deepest desire for His creation. And in Jesus, that desire has taken shape, it has been revealed in Christ Jesus, he has lived it, and offered it to us all. So let us begin where Shalom begins - within our own hearts. Let us carry that peace into our lives and share it with those we meet. Let us bring our lives, our hopes, and our burdens before the Lord, trusting that His Shalom is already at work among us.
Amen.