Preparing for this weekend’s homily it seems to me that the theme of the gospel swirls around the sending of the apostles:
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
and we find out at the end of this week’s gospel that they were successful:
The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
The apostles were following the lead of Jesus who in Luke Chapter 8 meets Mary from Magdala:
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…
Makes one wonder about our modern age: where have all the demons gone?