Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Proper 9 (14) - Year C
Where is this heaven where names are written? Consider the prayer, “on earth as it is in heaven”. Our living in process (read: engaging individuals and communities in the present) is always caught between the abundance of plenty (name written) and the fear of scarcity (name not written).
Note how we travel together. We are drawn toward opportunity (where expressed peace is a ground-rule). We settle, knowing who we are, and those who will be drawn to the healing we carry.
While we have made the knocking of dust off our feet into a judgment against others, it is simply a recognition of time and space needing to come together and, for whatever reason, they didn’t in a particular time or space. While it feels good to blame others, it would be better described as a sadness rather than a “Woe to you!”. The elided verses are appropriately left out as they slip into control and power models rather than sharing peace for the sake of sharing, regardless of response.
So, homework time. As you change spaces during the week, offer this preemptive blessing: “G*D is near: Neighb*r’s are here”. See if from Monday to Sunday there is a subtle, but noticeable, shift in how you move through your day. If so, you’ll be able to see your name engraved where’er ye go throughout this whole, wide earth. If not, keep at it; you will.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/07/luke-101-11-16-20.html
Where does Jesus intend to be this week?
I presume your response included an area near you. Jesus intends to be in your neighborhood this week.
How, then, prepare for, be aware of, Jesus' presence?
First, recognize that another has also been sent ahead to work with you. Though the laborers may be few, they are each significant. As aware as you desire to be regarding Jesus' presence, are you also investing as much energy in being aware of your partner, sister or brother, who is also desiring to be aware of Jesus and you?
Second, no matter what the previous relationship with this other person, if any, it is time to recognize there is no class, status, possession, or wisdom criterion that is to get in the way of your working together. Neither of you will have purse, bag, sandals, or anything else that will get in the way of preparing for the People of Peace than to have that word, "Peace," ready and able to spring from your lips.
This, then, is the password of identification of you to find one another - the speaking and receiving of Peace that binds you together in the work of Peace. First, be Peace. Second, share Peace. Third, receive the blessing of Peace. Or, as John Wesley learned, preach peace until you have it and then preach peace because you have it.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/july2004.html
While doing some routine web browsing (well, routine for me) I periodically run across folks who have used something from these comments. A couple of days ago I found a sermon that referred to a comment from here. Here it is:
"How can we "be angry, but do not sin", as our reading today so succinctly encourages us? How do we do so in order to become imitators of God, to in the words of the epistle writer "be kind to one another" – the word for kindness in the Greek, Chraistoi , apparently a pun of Christos, to wit: to be kind is to be like Christ?* [*Thanks go to Wesley White of the website "Kairos CoMotion" for this observation.]
This sort of attribution always begins in a burst of pride followed by a sense of humility as it wasn't so much me saying that as passing on information I had run across that struck a resonating chord with me.
It is appropriate to hear Jesus speak to us in moments of justifying triumph, "Do not rejoice at this, that you were a vehicle of inspiration, but rejoice that you are present with G*D.
This business of being present is one I am still struggling with but it helps me more than being split between "now" and "then," with "then" being more real than "now".
Where is your rejoicing and how does it assist you in engaging the issues of Peace and Mercy that will be seen in contrast to demons of the moment?
After seeing Fahrenheit 9/11 it does seem that some reminder of humility is appropriate in the midst of tomorrow's celebration of the American 4th of July. Another way of coming at this is to remember the Philippine experience and why July 4th is not celebrated as their Independence Day even though the American flag was taken down on that day and the Philippine flag raised.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/july2004.html
We just moved with more than a purse, bag, sandals, and silent grim determination of the soul on the road. We arrived with a greeting of "Peace" - some of which has been returned to us and some kept and cherished. We hope to remain without moving for the term of our appointment. Now comes the time to find the culture of this place, to eat what is set before us, and to set a presence of G*D before those sick from its absence.
A challenge is to speak with the authority of experiences of G*D's presence that have gone before without yanking them out of their context.
A hope is great joy.
A task to take authority to enter new experiences of G*D treading out the hurtful.
- - -
challenges hopes tasks
come in community
from us and to us
in us an for us
by us and with us
they feel like ours alone
but always they are set
in a larger context
shared with seventy times seven
who have gone ahead
we are overwhelmed
with need and limits
carrying only urgency
in frail experience
of expansive presence
yet
it is
enough
for now
and ever
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
Some say Jesus sent out 70 folks and some 72. I imagine the 2 extra were the 2 from the previous pericope that were asked to come; made their excuses; heard Jesus' response to their hesitation; rethought/revisioned what was important to them; and came on along.
Following James and John's incendiary remarks from before, Jesus has wisely set up some additional learning experiences for the disciples. A significant part of following Jesus' way to G*D is that of an expansive and expanding welcome (a "peace to all") that leaves room for transformation of G*D, Jesus, Disciples, and Others.
When the focus is on a peaceful welcome, it is amazing how little need there is to yell protests against folks. After laying out two available responses to the paired disciples, it is good to note that their final Blue Book essay was all about the results of mutual welcoming and the powerful relationships and healings that flow from such. Yes, the disciples could have gone looking for opportunities to knock dust off their feet against someone else and they probably even experienced some circumstances where that would have been appropriate, but here they don't find those times to be as exciting, memorable, and reportable as their times of welcome.
We still have opportunities and choices to welcome or curse. Many situations offer opportunity for both responses. A part of our work as individuals and as congregations is to continue finding intentional opportunities to practice trusting a welcome will really be found in our encounters. Recognition of an experience of the Presence of G*D is the value Jesus is looking for. The healings are a bonus.
With whom are you willing to walk together for an hour and then to spend a second hour reflecting on where you had experienced welcome. Y'all might want to try several of these practice sessions (imagine Jesus appointed you to practice until you became proficient at offering a welcoming peace at every moment of your day). One might be in a nature setting, one in a mall, one at a Sunday Service, and one at a community gathering of some sort. These eight hours of practice and reflection will likely lead you joy, just as it did the disciples, as you see more and more of a mystery of welcome, which is a mystery of life, which is a mystery of G*D.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/06/luke-101-11-16-20.html