Fifth Pentecost
Luke 10:1-11
We have a tradition in our house. Somewhere around the 4th of July we always watch one of my favorite musicals on video, 1776. The musical is delightful for its characterizations and music but more importantly it carries valuable perspective and insight into the founding of the nation. Even though, as Garrison Keillor pointed out last night on Prairie Home Companion, many of our favorite images of the actual signing are inaccurate there is a piece that cannot be denied. Here are a group of men from all walks of life; doctors, farmers, lawyers who have committed themselves to determine the fate of these thirteen colonies. I think sometimes that we have the picture that the delegates to the Continental Congress were all agreed about military action, that the decision about revolution was clear cut and so apparent that everyone just jumped on board. In fact, the outcome of this action for independence was not at all clear. Dispatch after dispatch from General Washington indicated that the military was n poor to worse shape. Reports from the colonies waffled on support for and against military action. The chance of success was slim. Only slightly crazy people could ever start this journey to independence when the outcome was so uncertain and the future was so unclear.
Watching on T.V. the fourth of July festivities from across the country a picture of the statue of Liberty filled the screen. What a symbol for those immigrants who began perilous journeys, uncertain of their outcome or ending. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free... Send these the homeless, tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." How many of grandparents and great grandparents gazed on that sight after leaving homes and families to face an unknown future. How many teenagers left Germany or Sweden with only the expectation of meeting a distant cousin already here? What an experience that must have been to leave the family and the home and the lifestyle that was known with only the promise of a new life, a better life ahead.
Perhaps one of the stellar chapters in Holy Spirits history is our mobilization to welcome and support several Cambodian families. Their stories of intrigue and escape, leaving behind relatives and possessions, time spent in refugee camps and travel to this country facing an uncertain and unknown future are inspiring.
Our gospel lesson this morning tells of another journey, the journey of the 70 sent by Jesus into the towns and villages. Their journey bears some striking resemblance to those just mentioned for at the heart of it is risk and promise, the risk of leaving the known and embarking on the unknown. The challenge of going out without all the trappings off security; money, possessions and comfort. The promise of a new future. Jesus sent the seventy out with a message that the kingdom of God is near.
Jesus sent them out. These are not the elite, the special 12 disciples. These people are part of the crowds that have been listening to Jesus message of healing and hope. Their relationship has been cemented by his preaching and his teaching not by his personal friendship. But Jesus doesn't pull any punches with them. He is totally honest in his commission. Indeed, two metaphors are used for those who are sent. Jesus says "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few," and Jesus says, "See I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves." Laborers and lambs. Both metaphors suggest those who are sent and he who sends is characterized by vulnerability and trust. The laborer does his work trusting that he will be paid but really being vulnerable to the scruples of his employer. And the good shepherd...Interesting that the one who is the good shepherd, the protector of the flock should admit that these lambs are sent to a world made up of wolves. Surely these lambs must trust the shepherd who sent them.
These 70 were armed only with the knowledge and message that God's rule over all of life and creation was very near. However, when they returned from their missionary journey, they came back with some additional knowledge. Knowledge they could not have possibly gained prior to their missionary journey. They discovered that God's rule and kingdom were not only near; they also discovered that the kingdom was active and God was already at work in it.
They discovered that in the coming rule of God that they were not really vulnerable. They discovered that they were not really lambs ready to be killed by the wolves. What they learned was that they were powerful people when they were armed with God's message of the kingdom. Moreover, they also discovered that the message of the kingdom was alive, because they saw its power manifested as they preached and ministered to others. When they came back from their
missionary journey they realized that they were no longer the same people that were sent out.
They had power, not only did they proclaim the kingdom they were part of the kingdom, not only were they vulnerable but they were valuable. Fear was overcome by faith.
How often do we face our own personal journeys. Personal, individual trials and times when we are called into service. We too go out on those journeys with only promise and hope. The outcome is at times unclear, the security scarse, the comforts rare. . There is risk but always there is the one who does the sending, who stands waiting for our return. And when we return we are not the same people. We are not the vulnerable fearful people who set out but we are empowered. We have seen the kingdom at work, alive, active, NOW!
So go in peace, serve the Lord!
Amen.