Nothing Will Harm You

Jesus says to his disciples, “Nothing will harm you.” That statement, taken at face value, clearly has some problems. Things do harm the disciples. All but John are martyred, and it is not like John lived out his life in luxury and comfort. What does Jesus mean when he tells his disciples that nothing will harm you? Ponder that question as you read this Gospel.

Nothing Will Harm You

Gospel - Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others

whom he sent ahead of him in pairs

to every town and place he intended to visit.

He said to them,

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest.

Go on your way;

behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;

and greet no one along the way.

Into whatever house you enter, first say,

'Peace to this household.'

If a peaceful person lives there,

your peace will rest on him;

but if not, it will return to you.

Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,

for the laborer deserves his payment.

Do not move about from one house to another.

Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you,

cure the sick in it and say to them,

'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'

Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,

go out into the streets and say,

'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,

even that we shake off against you.'

Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand.

I tell you,

it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town."

The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said,

"Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name."

Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.

Behold, I have given you the power to 'tread upon serpents' and scorpions

and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,

but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Scriptural Analysis

Jesus provides a group of disciples a chance to share in his mission. The Lord is sending before him (literally before his face) seventy-two disciples. Whereas the sending of the twelve symbolizes the regathering of the tribes of Israel, the seventy-two symbolizes the mission to the Gentiles, since seventy-two is the number of the Gentile nations (Genesis 10). Jesus has come to save both Israel and the Gentile nations. The mission of the disciples will begin in Israel but then extend beyond.

Jesus sends the disciples out in pairs. The early Church continued this practice. Before sending them out, Jesus provides them with a set of instructions. First, they are to ask the master of the harvest for more laborers. This recalls the parable of the sewer where the image of an abundant harvest is used, “And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.” (Luke 8:8) The word used here for master is kyrios which is often translated as Lord denoting that it is God the Father that the disciples are paying to and asking to send more laborers.

Jesus is aware that the mission he is sending them on is dangerous, as he tells them they will be like lambs among wolves. This likely has the disciples wondering about their chance of success. They may have also recalled the words of Sirach, "What fellowship has a wolf with a lamb? No more has a sinner with a godly man.” (Sirach 13:17) Additionally, being compared to lambs tells the disciples how their mission is to go about. They are not establishing the Kingdom of God through force but rather through peace.

The disciples are to go forth, leaving behind all unnecessary possessions. They are to rely on divine providence working through those whom they encounter and offer hospitality. They are not to carry a money bag or sack to hold provisions. They are not to bring an extra pair of sandals. The final instruction he gives them would draw comparisons to Elisha telling his servant Gahazi, “If you meet any one, do not salute him; and if any one salutes you, do not reply.” (2 Kings 4:20) The reason for this was because Gahazi’s mission was urgent. So too is the mission of the seventy-two.

Jesus instructs the disciples to extend a greeting of peace to the household when they enter a home. Peace (shalom in Hebrew) has a traditional greeting, but it is also the greeting that accompanies the birth of Jesus, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.” (Luke 2:14) Furthermore, when Jesus is recognized as the Messiah, as he approaches Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, peace is once again proclaimed, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38) Jesus also greats his disciples with his message of peace after his resurrection, “As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’” (Luke 24:36) Those who accept this greeting are peaceful persons. Such people would likely be open to hearing the message of the disciples and even use their home as a base for their mission. When the disciples find such people and are invited into their home. They are to remain there and not look for better accommodations. The meals offered to them are their payment for sharing the Gospel. This has a basis in Old Testament law where the Levites were allowed to take a portion of the sacrifice, “but their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved and as the right thigh are yours.” (Numbers 18:8)

Now, staying in a house that extends a welcome to the disciples becomes a point of challenge. These disciples will likely enter Samaritan villages. The issue of Jews eating with these Samaritans arose and was contrasted with the Pharisees, who were overly strict about who they would eat with. Yet, it extended Jesus’ practice of eating with Tax Collectors and sinners.

What are the disciples to do? Jesus tells them that they will cure the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God. These are the same activities that Jesus carried out in his ministry. Additionally, these are the same activities that the Church continues to carry out to this present day.

Now, if a town refuses the disciples, they are to share off (or wipe off) the dust from their feet. This parallels what the twelve were to do if a town refused them, “And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” (Luke 9:5) This may also by why they were sent in two: to ensure that the testimony against a town could be confirmed, “A single witness shall not prevail against a man for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed; only on the evidence of two witnesses, or of three witnesses, shall a charge be sustained.” (Deuteronomy 19:15) The disciples are also to warn the people that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Their judgment for failing to receive the word will be greater than the fate that befell Sodom.

The return of the seventy-two is recounted almost immediately in Luke’s Gospel. Some time passed between their sending and return, but that time is not detailed in Luke’s narrative. They all returned rejoicing. Addressing Jesus as Lord, they share with him the reason for their joy. The demons were subject to them because of the name of Jesus. Through their work, the Kingdom of the evil one is retreating. This echoes the words of the Prophet Isaiah, who wrote, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!” (Isaiah 14:12). Of course, the battle will not be over until the end of time. Still, Jesus anticipates ultimate victory in his words to the disciples.

Therefore, the disciples have nothing to fear because Jesus has given them power over the enemy through his name. He describes this authority as the ability to tread upon serpent and scorpions, a reference to the Psalms, “You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.” (Psalm 91:13) Finally, Jesus clarifies the real reason they should rejoice: their names are written in heaven.

Daily Application

Our world is focused on physical health. Given the vast amounts of money we spend on various things, our focus is on our bodies. Additionally, we focus on material comfort. We have the rise of the McMansion, the luxury car, the expensive vacation, and numerous other things. Our attention is on the physical: the here and now. Yet I would imagine most of us know devout and holy Catholics who have suffered. Perhaps they have gotten cancer or had to suffer with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. These things harmed them.

When Jesus says ‘nothing will harm you,’ he is not referring to your physical health, but to your spiritual health. As long as we are united to Him and seek to do the will of His Father, then nothing on earth can harm us spiritually. And since nothing can harm us spiritually, ultimately, nothing can harm us at all. Even if our body fails or we suffer a gruesome fate, our bodies will be resurrected at the end of time, our souls reunited, and we will spend eternity with our Lord.

So live your life at peace: unafraid of what may come. Do not worry about tomorrow, but stay focused on today. Whatever the future holds, our Lord will not forsake you. You do not face life alone but with our creator: the one who loves you more deeply than you can ever know. With Jesus, you can face all things knowing that, “Nothing will harm you.”