Paul sounded a little depressed at the end of his letter. He was exhausted, and it was clear in his comments that some people had let him down, even done him harm. We can admire Paul's incredible perseverance and courage. Whenever we feel overwhelmed by the challenges of life or the actions of others, let us draw strength from Paul's example.

By sending out the 70 two by two to proclaim the kingdom of God, Jesus hoped to raise the minds and hearts of the people to prepare them for God's coming. He told his disciples to travel light - in fact, with nothing - because of the great urgency. He wanted them to move swiftly and unencumbered by possessions. He also wanted them to recognize that their mission was completely God's doing and not their efforts, so they had to trust completely in God's providence. We could all travel lightly - 'downsizing' our possessions - and learn to rely more on God than on self. We live in times that call for that urgency, for there is much to do and so little time.