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.
Jesus gives us peace us his own peace, not as the world gives it (see John 14:27). He invites us to let that peace reign in our hearts (see Colossians 3:15). When that peace reigns we do not need to let ourselves be troubled or afraid. This is peace which surpasses all understanding (see Philippians 4:7). Jesus gives this peace to us as a gift. But he does not give it just for us. We in turn offer it to others.
We have the peace for which the world longs. This is why we need to pray for more laborers for the harvest to share the gift. We need to embrace simplicity so that our own needs don't distract us from the mission. Just as Jesus doesn't abandon us when we aren't exactly what he'd hoped so too is it important we stay in the houses where we are initially welcomed rather than running from house to house looking for the best (which probably means easiest) situations for us.
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
God will take care of us when the gift we have for others is not welcomed. We can count on that. We don't need to let fear of rejection stop us. We can shake the dust if we need to leave. Our peace returns to us intact.
The seventy-two returned rejoicing
To participate in the mission of Jesus, the victory over Satan, is joyful indeed. But we are reminded that the main thing is not the various manifestations along the way. Rather, it is the end goal that makes it all worthwhile.
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.
When was the last time we rejoiced that our names are written in heaven? This needs to be central to us. Then we will actually have the fullness of joy that we are meant to offer to others. We ourselves have been crucified to the world and are new creations, the beginnings and first fruits of a new heaven and a new earth.
Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river,
and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent.
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