Proper C9 - Ordinary 14 - July 8th 2007
Readings:
According to Luke, Jesus appointed 72 "others" - presumably besides the 12. He sent them out in twos, telling them not to take anything with them. He said: "Go I am sending you like lambs among wolves."
The 72 were given a script with two lines. "Peace to his house", and, "The kingdom of God is nar you".
The 72 returned joyful at mission accomplished. They said "Lord, even the demons submit to us in yur name".
There is significance in the numbers "12" and "70/72". The 12 would be understood as rlating to the 12 tribes of Israel. The Jews thought that there were 72 Gentile nations - (from Genesis 10) |  | Composer Giacomo Puccini wrote a number of famous operas. In 1922 he was suddenly stricken by cancer while working on his last opera, "Turandot," which many now consider his best. Puccini said to his students, "If I don't finish 'Turandot,' I want you to finish it for me." Shortly afterwards he died. Puccini's students studied opera carefully and soon completed it. In 1926 the world premiere of "Turandot" was performed in Milan with Puccini's favorite student, Arturo Toscanini, directing. Everything went beautifully until the opera reached the point where Puccini had been forced to put down his pen. Tears ran down Toscanini's face. He stopped the music, put down his baton, turned to the audience and cried out, "Thus far the Master wrote, but he died." A vast silence filled the opera house. Toscanini picked up the baton again, smiled through his tears and exclaimed, "But his disciples finished his work." When "Turandot" ended, the audience broke into thunderous applause. No one at the premiere performance ever forgot that moment. |