Whoever listens to you...

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Oct 3, 2025 12:05 am

The 72 other disciples—a group other than the Twelve (Apostles)—are sent as Jesus’ “ambassadors.”

They proclaim Jesus’ own message and are empowered by Jesus to teach, to cast out demons, to announce peace to whatever house they enter.

Their message is so important that it spells judgment on the receivers: to welcome it is to experience God’s salvation; to reject spells condemnation, and they will be treated as outsiders.

There is no going around the bush when it comes to the Gospel; there are no “fence-sitters” around it, persons who remain neutral or non-committed on the matter of salvation.

One is either “hot” and accept it gladly, or “cold,” not being interested.

Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Mt 12:30). Whoever does not help Jesus in his mission to gather citizens for the Kingdom of heaven is guilty of scattering them, and stands against the Holy Spirit. Whoever is not inside the boat of the Church that sails through history has to swim on his own to his own peril.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 79

“For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.”

Gospel • Luke 10:13-16

Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me.

Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”