Luke  ◦   Chapter 10

1After this the Lord selected seventy-two other interns and sent them ahead in pairs to every town and village he planned to visit.2He said to them: "Those ready to be brought into the kingdom of love are plentiful, but those willing to work to spread the Remedy are few. Ask the Lord of life to send workers out who will spread the Remedy.3Go now. I am sending you out — like gentle lambs into a brutally savage world — to reveal love.4This isn't a shopping trip so don't take a lot of money; it isn't a vacation so don't take luggage or other belongings, you will only be burdened by watching after them; and don't get distracted from your mission by stopping on the road to pay homage and give long protracted displays of appreciation to those you meet.

5 "When you enter a house, extend your hand in peace.6If the host takes your hand in peace, then you will both relax in peace; if not, your peace will be your own.7Accept the hospitality of your host and eat what they prepare for this is how the law of love works. You give your time, wisdom and energy, and they give you support. And show how stable you are by staying in one place.

8 "When you enter a town and are warmly received, demonstrate the law of love by accepting their hospitality graciously,9and then give to them by healing the sick among them, and telling them that this is how God's kingdom operates.10But when you enter a town and are rejected, publicly declare,11'Because you don't want us here, we are leaving. But understand this: We brought you the Remedy from God's kingdom of love, but you have rejected it. So we shake the dust off our feet to let you know we are not responsible for your decision.'12The truth is, Sodom will have less guilt to bear than that town.

13"Korazin, your suffering will be great! Misery will be yours, Bethsaida! If the miracles and evidence that were presented to you would have been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have humbled themselves, rejected selfishness, accepted the Remedy, and been restored to love.14Tyre and Sidon will have less guilt and agony to bear on the day each person faces ultimate truth than you.15And people of Capernaum, will you soar into heaven? Oh, no! Having rejected the Remedy, you will shrivel up and decay into the depths.

16"Those who embrace the truth you bring are embracing me; those who reject the truth you bring are rejecting me; and those who reject me are rejecting my Father who sent me."

17When the seventy-two returned, they were jubilant, saying, "Lord, even evil angels obeyed our commands issued in your name."

18He replied, "Like lightening falling from the sky, I see Satan exposed (for all to see) and falling from the affections of the heavenly intelligences.19All Satan's forces are like snakes and scorpions — ready to strike you — but I have given you power over them and they cannot harm you.20But take no joy in the fact that evil forces flee before you; rather rejoice in the knowledge that you have partaken of the Remedy and are registered as healed in the books of heaven."

21Hearing their report, Jesus rejoiced, and inspired by the Holy Spirit said, "Thank you, Father, Sovereign of heaven and earth, because you have revealed the truth of your kingdom of love to those whose minds are like little children, open and eager to learn; but to those who have closed their minds, thinking they already have all the answers, the truth is hidden. Yes, Father, this is exactly what pleases you, to present the truth in love and leave your intelligent beings free to embrace or reject it.

22"Everything necessary to rid the universe from sin and restore creation to perfection the Father has entrusted to me. The Father and Son are intimately united in heart and mind and no one knows the Son except the Father, nor the Father except the Son and those who learn of the Father from the Son."

23Then, turning to his interns and speaking privately, he said, "Happy are those people who see and embrace what you have seen and embraced.24Many of God's spokespersons and kings longed to stand here and see what you are seeing but they didn't have the opportunity; they longed to hear the truths you have heard but they didn't have the chance."

25On one occasion, one of the nation's top lawyers stood up to test Jesus: "Doctor, what is required for me to do in order to receive eternal life?"

26Jesus smiled and asked him, "What is written in the Law, and how do you understand it?"

27He answered, "Love the Lord your God with your entire being, heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

28"That's right," Jesus replied, "Live in harmony with God's design for life — the law of love — and you will live."

29But the lawyer wanted a loophole to justify his bigotry so he asked Jesus, "But, who is my neighbor?"

30Jesus gave this answer: "A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by thieves. They beat him, took all he had, and left him naked and bleeding, nearly dead on the road.31When a pastor came down the road and saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side and walked on by.32Likewise, a member of the church leadership team came by and saw him, then crossed to the other side and walked on by.33But then came a Samaritan, a member of a race hated by the Jews. When he saw the man lying there, he had compassion for him.34He went over to him, cleaned his wounds, and applied salve and bandages. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, took him to an inn, and cared for him.35The next day he paid the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him for me. I will take care of any additional costs when I return.'

36"In your judgment, which of these three was a neighbor to the man who was mugged by the thieves?"

37The lawyer begrudgingly replied, "The one who was merciful to him." "Go and live just like that," Jesus instructed him.

38As Jesus and his interns were traveling, they came to a small town where a woman named Martha invited them to stay.39She had a sister, Mary, who loved to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to all he had to say.40But Martha was too preoccupied with preparing for guests to listen. Frustrated, she interrupted and said, "Lord, doesn't it matter to you that my sister has abandoned me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!"

41Jesus answered gently, "Dear Martha, you fret over so many things,42but only one thing is essential–partaking the Remedy. Mary has chosen it, and it won't be taken from her."