Catechesis Notes for Week — Summer Stories from the Gospel of Luke— In the power of the Gospel alone, the Sending Out of the Seventy takes place, giving us a picture of the Office of the Holy Ministry that continues to the present day in the Church. The present sufferings of this life for us as Christians are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. The call of the Gospel leads us through death to life. The Seventy Return with Joy to Jesus. They learned that the Gospel of Jesus was the power of God to save sinners and cast out demons. Wherever this Gospel of peace is faithfully preached, Jesus Himself is at work comforting troubled consciences and giving the gift of eternal life. This theme continues in the Parable of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus’ love for sinners is depicted in the Good Samaritan who saved a Jew from certain death, even though that Jew would have considered the Samaritan his sworn enemy. Instead, the Samaritan binds up the man’s wounds, carries him to the inn, and provides for everything he needs to be brought back to health. In the same way, while we were the enemies of God, helpless and spiritually destitute, Jesus came to us and rescued us from destruction, doing everything for us and for our salvation. In the account of Mary and Martha, it is precisely this undeserved mercy of the Lord Jesus that moves Mary to sit at Jesus’ feet and be taught the Word of Life—the one thing needful. Jesus promises those who delight in His Word that it shall never be taken from them.CP250629