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A look at the appointed gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary for June 14, 2020.
“Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
[Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”]””
My Two Cents….
I must have been in second grade when my mother first asked me to go to Huber’s Deli. Our home, at the time, was located on the one end of Huber Street, just below the crest of the hill. On the other end of the street was Huber Street school, where I attended the elementary grades. Still further on the street was the deli. It was about a quarter mile of distance between our house and the store. As a child, who walked to school each day, it seemed much longer.
With a list in my hand and a few dollars in my pocket, Mom sent me to the store. It was a big responsibility and made me feel like a ‘big boy.’ My quest for sliced deli cheese, ham, and freshly baked rolls was repeated many times throughout my childhood. Although no bard ever sang of these grand journeys, I am proud to say that I didn’t disappoint.
When Jesus sends his twelve disciples out to the surrounding villages it is not for sliced deli meats and rolls. He does give them a list, however. Proclaim the good news. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Wow! And I thought my shopping list was complicated!
With Jesus’s directions to his disciples come warnings. The road ahead is not paved with lollipops, rainbows, and unicorns. It is filled with broken glass, potholes, and snarling wolves. Obviously, Jesus didn’t have help from a promotional/marketing department. Instead of sugar-coating, Jesus speaks honestly to the reality that the world can be a harsh place.
In this time of pandemic and social unrest (caused by generations of racial injustice), it is not easy to proclaim the gospel. Speaking about God’s love when things are in turmoil might seem foolish to some. We need order, security, and things to go back to “normal.” For those demanding such things, the proclamation of Jesus’s gospel might have all the importance of a child’s mission to go to the corner store.
In the real world, the powerful use any means necessary to establish and maintain a status quo. Therein lies part of the problem. The world resorts to self-centered and dominating means to establish “peace,” which most benefits those in privileged positions.
God’s shalom (peace) is something altogether different. From the prophets of old, through the ministry of Jesus, to the current day, those who seek genuine shalom know that it comes through the pursuit of justice and the establishment of right relationships between people.. Justice comes when love removes the barriers of division, hatred, and inequality. Justice comes through the restoration of dignity to all people.
On the original “shopping list” that Jesus gave to his disciples were those who the Pharisees judged and marginalized. It was thought at the time that physical ailments, disabilities, and mental disorders were all signs of God’s displeasure. God couldn’t love brokenness.
Except, of course, God does love those who are hurting, hungry, and helpless. The Pharisees got it wrong by the standard of Jesus’s compassionate ministry. Jesus healed, resurrected, cleansed, and cast out demons as a sign that God seeks restoration of all, especially those at the margins.
So how might we join in that effort this week? How might we show love in our words and deeds? After all, Jesus has given us a list and has asked us to head out into the neighborhood.
In Christ’s Light,
Walt
Permission granted to share today's content with family and friends. Copyrighted 2020. Walt Lichtenberger
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