Sunday Vigil
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Luke 10,17-24
The seventy-two came back rejoicing. 'Lord,' they said, 'even the devils submit to us when we use your name.' He said to them, 'I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Look, I have given you power to tread down serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.' Just at this time, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, for that is what it has pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.' Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them by themselves, 'Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.'
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
In their missionary journey, the seventy-two disciples have experienced the transforming power of the Gospel of love that Jesus had given to them. Coming back in the evening, they gather around Jesus and, filled with joy, they tell him of the miracles they were able to perform among people. Listening to them, Jesus rejoices with them and confirms their experience: "I watched Satan fall like a flash of lightning." It is the joy that is born in the Chirstian community every time evil retreats and is overcome by the weak strength of love. Jesus confirms the power he has given the disciples: "I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you." Jesus adds that true joy, which no one can ever take away from the disciple, which consists in having one's name written in heaven, that is, near God's own heart. Communion with Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the life of the disciple today and in the future. It is his or her strength and joy. At this point Jesus, still moved by what happened that day, raises his eyes to heaven and thanks the Father because he chose to entrust the secret of love to those little disciples that have entrusted themselves to him. It is a sweet prayer which flows out of the deep love that Jesus has for the Father and for the disciples, and also for us, children of the last hour. After having prayed he turns to those seventy-two and pronounces a blessing which should travel through the centuries and encompass all believers: "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!" To us too is granted the grace to "see," to hear, to live with Jesus in a direct way through life in the community of believers.