Grace and Space

Lk 10:1-12
Laborers needed: Luke’s Gospel contains two separate incidents of Jesus sending out disciples on a mission: the Twelve (9:1-6) and, above, the seventy-two, who represent the Gentile mission of the Church in the author’s time. Luke presents as very similar the mission of the Twelve and the mission of the seventy-two, showing that the mission of Jesus continues in the evangelist’s own day through those who succeed the Twelve.
Here Jesus instructs the seventy-two to pray for more laborers for the harvest. The mission of the post-Pentecost Church has greatly expanded; more missioners are needed.
By naming seventy-two, who are sent out in pairs, Luke echoes the book of Numbers’ account of Moses’ gathering of seventy elders of Israel, who received a share of Moses’ spirit and would assist him in leading the people. The variant reading of seventy-two alludes to the two men, Eldad and Medad, who were outside the camp when the seventy received the spirit but got a portion nevertheless.
Luke’s seventy-two missioners are the leaders of the Church who have received the Spirit of God at Pentecost (cf Acts 2:1-4) and are commissioned and sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God.