Loving God, you call us to rely on you for all that is needed, especially during uncertain times.  Empower us by your Holy Spirit to work for your kingdom, speaking peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Imagine that you are being sent on an urgent trip.  In fact, it is so urgent that you will be leaving in just a few minutes from your current location.  You will be taking only the clothes on your back.  Any purses or wallets, credit cards or cell phones must be left behind.  You will travel with a partner, and your driver will pick you up shortly.  You will be taken to a neighbouring town or city and will be dropped off on the side of the road.  You will knock on the door of the first house that you come to, give them a greeting of peace, and see if they will offer you a place to stay and some food.  You will remain at that house for as long as you are needed in that place.

         Given a scenario like this, most of us would have a lot of questions, and more than a little anxiety.  What if nobody will take us in?  How are we going to manage without a change of clothes?  How will we ever get home again?  What if they only have terrible food?  What if we get kidnapped and nobody knows where we are?  What if we lose our one pair of shoes?

         One would think that those seventy followers of Jesus who were sent out might have had more than a little anxiety, as well – especially with the dire warning that they were being sent out “like lambs into the midst of wolves” (Lk. 10:3).  They must have had some “what if” kinds of questions, too, and may have asked how they could possibly do the things that Jesus was asking them to do – like curing the sick.  However, if they did ask any of these questions, we don’t hear about it.

         As we hear this gospel story today, some of us might have a hard time imagining ourselves being sent out like this.  In fact, these days many of us think immediately of safety concerns.  We would feel like those lambs in the midst of wolves.  And so, while we might have a hard time imagining being sent out two by two, we do not have a hard time imagining the anxiety and the uncertainty that must have been part of this mission.  After all, we have so many questions when we see what is going on in our world.

         We see protests and violence and racism and wonder where it is all going to end.  We see one climate disaster after another and wonder about the future of this planet.  We see rich criminals who don’t seem to suffer any consequences, while other people are unjustly imprisoned.  We see judges that are more concerned about politics than about justice.  We see war and famine and pestilence and wonder when the end will come.  We see a church that seems to be declining in numbers and wonder what the future will hold.  It is remarkably easy to feel anxious and uncertain.

         Thankfully, however, we also get to hear the joyful part of the story today.  Those seventy disciples who were sent out by Jesus return to him – and they are amazed and full of joy.  They were actually able to heal people.  They were even able to cast out demons in the name of Jesus.  There were people who actually received them and were open to God’s reign and God’s peace.  They saw the power of God at work, and it was amazing!  Could any of this be part of our story, too?

         After all, God has never stopped empowering ordinary people through the Holy Spirit to bring healing and good news to others.  God has never stopped being present with us through that same Holy Spirit, regardless of whatever uncertainty we might be facing.  God has never stopped changing people’s hearts and lives through Jesus, for God desires all people to turn to Jesus and receive salvation.  And God has never stopped providing for those who put the kingdom of God first and seek God’s righteousness above all else (Mt. 6:33).

         Certainly, there are some people who will reject us just as they rejected Jesus.  There were some who rejected those disciples who were sent out, and some who did not share in their greeting of peace.  There were some who witnessed what Jesus was doing and heard his teaching – in person! – and yet still refused to believe that he had come from God.  I keep thinking of Michael Harvey who initiated “Back to Church Sunday” and asks, ‘How many “no’s” are you willing to take for Jesus?’.

         There will always be those who are not interested and who don’t think that they need salvation.  However, there are just as many who long for God’s peace, and who know that they are in need of healing, and who are open to receiving Jesus.  May we, too, witness God’s power at work – even in and through us – by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Lectionary 14C                                 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

July 3, 2022

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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