The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 10:24-39
One of the things I’ve noticed about good nurses is that, in addition to his or her kindness, a good nurse will tell you what you can expect before it happens.
For example, I’m not big fan of needles, much less the sight of blood. But if the nurse tells me why its necessary, and warns me that it may hurt and perhaps bleed, and maybe even ask me where I would prefer to get the injection, I seem do a lot better.
And if I understand that a greater good is going to come from this, for example a steroid shot or a vaccine, then I am more than willing to undergo and endure some pain for the good that it will bring.
In fact, the more honest the nurse or the doctor is with me, the easier it is trust them. And in the end, my decision to face the pain or assume some risk is a conscious decision, even an empowered decision. So when and if things do get difficult, I’m ready for it—ready to do whatever needs to be done.
Last week we heard Jesus empowering the disciples to become apostles as Jesus was about to send them out in great joy to proclaim the amazing goodness of the reign of God and the good news that the kingdom has come near. Just like your ministry in the church and out in the world often brings you great joy, and a deep sense of blessing and fulfillment as we seek to serve Christ in all people.
Today’s gospel is part two of Jesus’ instructions to carry out his mission and God’s will for love, justice, and abundant life for the whole word and everyone in it.
And yet because the Kingdom of God is in fact different than the kingdoms of the world, Jesus instructs that not everyone is going to realize that the reign of God is good news. In fact, some are going to hear it as bad news.
For example, when Mary the mother of Jesus proclaims the greatness of the LORD in the Magnificat, she says, God has shown the strength of his arm. God has scattered the proud in their conceit. God has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. God has filled the hungry with good things and the rich, he has sent away empty.
Today Jesus reminds the apostles that not everyone in their world will be happy to hear that. For if one is attached to a throne or perhaps attached to making one’s money off of a system that depends on thrones and earthy power, the good news of God’s kingdom is going to sound threatening.
Furthermore, to those in the religious establishment, those attached, for example, to observing the Sabbath in a rigid way, Jesus teaching that Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. That the Sabbath is supposed be lifegiving not starvation inducing will not be well received. And so if you’re hungry on the Sabbath and you have no food, though Jesus teaches it’s okay to pick some grain, you can expect the Sadducees and Pharisees to push back.
Likewise, when a group of men is about to stone a woman caught in adultery, Jesus message of radical mercy and forgiveness: Let any among you who is without sin cast the first stone. This is going to sound like bad news if you are hellbent on scapegoating this woman.
And to all those who are attached to keeping some things the same, and let’s be honest, that could be any of us at times, there’s going to some resistance to the reign of God.
And so Jesus tells his apostles that when they go out, they can expect some blowback, and, in some cases, even persecution. Jesus says, If they call me names, they’re going to call you names too. For the student is not above the teacher.
You remember that not long before, some people had called Jesus Beelzubub, meaning Lord of the Flies, or Lord of Dung, or to use Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, they called Jesus Dungface. Imagine that, calling a man of love Dungface. But that’s what happens when people get so attached to the way things are that they close themselves off from love.
Of course we hardly need to look back 2000 years to see what resistance to the reign of God looks like. With my own eyes I remember as boy seeing separate bathrooms and water fountains marked with signs for colored. What is about bathrooms that can bring out the worst of our humanity?
I’m sure you can think of many other examples of resistance to the reign of God, like the long struggle for the freedom to be ourselves regardless of our sexual orientation or gender expression.
And so Jesus counsels the apostles when we proclaim the reign of God, we can expect resistance, blowback even persecution—sometimes even in our own families. And yet Jesus tells the apostles three different times, Do not be afraid. Do not fear those who can kill the body for they cannot kill the soul. God knows even when a sparrow falls to the ground how much more are you under God’s watchful eye and care.
Martin Luther, in the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” put it this way: The Body they may kill but God’s truth abideth still. God’s kingdom is forever. In end nothing is going to stop God’s love.
For there is nothing more powerful than love. Loves reveals what is true and, like a sword, it pares away the things and attachments opposed to God. Love makes us free—free to love God and free to keep on loving others, even though sometimes it hurts.
So be strong and of good courage. Proclaim the Good News of God’s love and the coming reign of God which is near, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. And when there is fear, persevere, for what you proclaim is greater than any fear.
© 2023 The Rev. Danny Schieffler
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Fayetteville, Arkansas