Reflection for Sunday – July 6, 2025

Sr. Karen Dietz, SSJSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Isaiah 66: 10-14c; Galatians 6: 14-18; Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20 
Preacher: Sr. Karen Dietz

Last week I was on vacation up in the Adirondacks with a few friends. As the week progressed, we accumulated a couple of bags of garbage, intending to take them to the nearest transfer station (dump) as in years past. Two of us were delegated to this task, so we set out on Friday morning. As we approached the site, there was a very clear sign stating, “Permit needed to dump trash.”

 We were confused, as this had never been the case before. Being two bold women, we pressed on, curious about this turn of events. As we pulled up, a man walked up to the car asking what he could do for us. We asked him his name— Jim. We simply asked, “how long have you required permits to dump trash here?” Jim launched into a full explanation of tourists taking advantage of a service without regard for the cost to the county. He said that the residents felt this step was necessary to help them continue to meet the rising costs.

We did not have to say hardly a word, just nodding our heads in agreement. He went on to tell us where we could purchase either a seasonal permit or stickers for each bag. As he spoke, he glanced at the time, realizing that he was scheduled to close in about 30 minutes. He realized we would not have time to drive further into town and back before that time. We assured him we could take our trash home this year and would be sure to buy stickers next time. He then asked: “how many bags do you have?” When he learned that it was only two, he took them from the back of the car and went on his way with a smile.

Today’s Gospel from Luke is the story of the sending of the 72, reminding them that their peace would rest on households open to receiving peace and that there will be other households that will require them to step away, shaking the dust from their sandals. As I prayed with this reading, I asked myself the question, “Is my heart a place open to receive Gospel peace?” In these days of ongoing turmoil, anxiety, violence, and war, holding a peaceful heart is a huge challenge. I find myself watching the news with incredulity that we human beings continue to treat others with such disrespect. We seem to have lost the art of disagreeing, and dialogue quickly rises to the point of name-calling and worse. Acts of simple human kindness are passe. To say nothing of how we regard the environment; the very air we breathe and water we drink.

To have a heart open to receive this peace is not to ignore the realities in our world. It is not a peace that does not see or hear or feel the pain and suffering. It is not a peace that enables us to move through our days unaware and untouched by the decisions made by those in power. Rather, this is a peace that holds the center. When the center holds, I am able to move ahead with my convictions— whether that means speaking out, writing letters, participating in protests, etc. These actions can be done without a peaceful center, but I believe that could result in belittling the other, shutting down any hope of a conversation.

Having a heart open to receive the Gospel allows me to be curious enough to look for the good in unsuspecting places. We could have approached Jim with an air of entitlement and anger. He could have come to us in much the same way. Instead, what transpired was a conversation in which we all learned something about another. That is what having a peaceful heart allows.

I want to have that kind of heart all the time, but it is hard. It means holding my convictions internally and expressing them in tone and in words that do not incite the other. More importantly, it means listening to the other completely, not waiting to pounce with my opinions. I think it means slowing down the conversation so that all parties might be heard. It also does not mean that I set out to change what another person believes.

We never know from where the Gospel message might come. As a believer, I want to be someone upon whom the peace of the Gospel might rest. I want to respond wholeheartedly with whatever action is demanded.  I do not want to be a person from whom the bearer of the message decides to walk away, shaking the dust from their feet.

These are challenging times in which we live. May we pray for one another that we might all be ready to welcome the message of the Gospel deep in our hearts.

Sr. Karen Dietz, SSJ
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