Crises often function as catalysts for the development of new initiatives. In the 1960s, the Second Vatican Council reminded us that the Church is first and foremost the People of God and the Body of Christ and not primarily a hierarchical institution. While there is little doubt that we are living in the time of the laity in the Church, it has taken a drastic reduction in the numbers of clergy and religious for lay Catholic women and men to recognize that they are called, by virtue of their baptism, to much more prominent roles in the life and mission of the church than they have exercised over the past 500 years or so. Prior to Vatican II, access to theological and biblical education was largely restricted to the formation of clergy. That has changed and will need to change even more dramatically if lay women and men are to be properly resourced to take their rightful place in the Church. Instead of bemoaning the crisis and looking for interim measures to “fill the gaps”, we might look for signs of the Spirit at work in leading us into new ways of being Church.

In today’s gospel, we hear that Jesus chooses “seventy others” and sends them out in pairs. Thirty-five couples or “pairs” constitute a formidable resource for the mission, for the “harvesting”. These missionary couples are authorized to be bringers of peace and healing, proclaimers of God’s kin-dom. They are to travel light and accept the hospitality offered them. Given the presence of women in the inner circle of Jesus’ followers (Luke 8:1-3), it is likely that at least some of these pairs were married couples. Further support for this comes from Luke’s second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, which features a married couple, Priscilla and Aquila, as prominent itinerant missionary associates of Paul. They are Jewish refugees who find a home in Corinth in the aftermath of Emperor Claudius’ expulsion of the Jews from Rome. They are tent makers and offer hospitality to Paul when he comes to Corinth. When Paul leaves for Syria, they accompany him as far as Ephesus. In Ephesus, Priscilla is presented as a confident woman theologian who takes the initiative in calling aside the eloquent and well-educated Jewish teacher, Apollos of Alexandria, who has an “accurate” but “incomplete” knowledge of Jesus.

In our communities, there are faith-filled, talented, and courageous couples like Priscilla and Aquila, as well as countless single lay women and men, who commit their talents and personal resources for the sake of the gospel mission. Many of them are prepared to do more if they can find the acceptance to function effectively. They need the authorization of leadership and the unfailing support of local communities. The earth imagery of harvest and “lambs among wolves” might serve as a reminder in our times that the mission is one that necessarily embraces care of every elements that constitutes the Earth community.