The Seventy-Two

A poem based on the story from Luke 10, about the 72 disciples who are sent out with nothing.

They entered my house

with nothing.

No bag,

no money,

the dust of the street

clinging to bare feet.

I have opened the door

before

to people carrying suitcases of tracts,

to people with Bibles in tow,

underlined, book-marked,

battle-ready.

But all this pair carried

were their travel-weary bodies

and the dusty clothes on their backs,

vulnerable,

almost,

as lambs amongst wolves.

Yet their faces said ‘peace’

and my heart said ‘peace’ too

so I stood aside

and pointed them in the direction of my kitchen.

And the three of us ate soup

and bread

and talked

and by and by

a new story tumbled out of our mouths.

By Rev Andreana