Lectionary for Pentecost 4
If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:8-9
Collect. Father, in the resurrection of your Son death gives birth to new life; the suffering he endured restores hope to a fallen world. Let sin never ensnare us with empty promises of passing joy. Keep us one with you always, so that our joy may be holy and our love may give strength to others. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reading. Galatians 6:7-16. As Christians we do not believe in karma, for karma assumes that history is cyclical and so what goes around comes around. Christians on the other hand believe that history has a beginning and also will have an end. That is why we recognise that God is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end. Never the less today’s reading reminds us “God is not mocked” and so we understand that nothing escapes the attention of God. The reading however is not concerned with simply moral issues whether major or minor but with the way a person responds to their relationship with Jesus. I think it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Our destiny is linked inexorably with our thoughts. The challenge is of course to guide our thoughts toward the way of Jesus rather than towards the world. The reading also recognises how difficult it is to always be directing our thoughts towards Jesus. That is why Paul is urging us to persist in our determination to follow in the way of Jesus.
However we must not simply rest there but need to also consider Paul’s final section of this letter. Here Paul urges the reader to rely fully on Jesus to achieve the outcome that he has spoken about in the previous section. He reminds us all to rely on what Jesus has done to keep us in relationship with God. It is not effort that helps us keep our thoughts on Jesus, but it is constantly remembering what he has done on our behalf. Paul writes about not being circumcised because in his social setting to be circumcised was to embrace salvation through the keeping of the law. This was, in Paul’s view, to take a position which was contrary to the way of the cross and the salvation that the cross obtained. He makes that position quite clear when he writes that the law achieves nothing, what really counts is the “new creation” that Jesus has achieved for each believer. So we remember that God is “not mocked”, but he is also faithful and will fulfil the promise that he has made to us and to the whole creation through Jesus Christ. For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.2 Corinthians 1:20–22. NRVS
Prayer. We thank you most gracious God for the faithfulness of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. May his saving work continue to prosper and grow across a world in need of compassion and humility. May our lives reflect the love and the freedom that he has won for us. Grant that through the power of your Holy Spirit we may be willing and able to declare all that Jesus has accomplished in every situation in which we are placed. With love and care may we be ready to consider others, looking always to Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith. May our lives always be lived out to your honour and glory. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen
Reading. Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. From our reading last week we noted that Luke is describing the determination of Jesus to complete his ministry by resolutely going to Jerusalem. Here in the section we read that Jesus sends out an extended group of disciples to the villages that he intends to visit. They are to go out in pairs; this would be for mutual support, for as for us, not every person or village would be willing to receive the message of a coming Saviour. They are lambs among wolves and so that mutual support would be important.
They are sent out under the direction of the “Lord of the Harvest”, Although the harvest is plentiful the gathering in of that harvest is at the behest of the one who is Lord of the Harvest. The implication is that man made schemes do not produce a harvest; they are to pray to the Lord of the Harvest in order to be sent out. Under his authority they take only the bare essentials with them and rely on him to provide for what else they might need. They are to be single-minded in their purpose for which they are being sent out. Nothing must distract them from their planned purpose for they are going ahead of Jesus himself.
Eating all that is offered to them is a reminder that through Jesus the dietary laws for them no longer apply: all food is now clean! They are to welcome whatever hospitality is offered to them and not move from house to house. Moving from house to house takes time and they are to simply keep to the task that has been set. Staying in one home also means only short stays for in a poor society no one can provide support for guests for an extended period.
Above all is the thought that they are sent out with a task and that task is to heal the sick and announce that God’s kingdom has come near to them. God’s Kingdom will bring social change, for healing and wholeness will be a part of the experience, for God will be in control. By coming near it also signals that the kingdom is open and available to them. As they announce the coming kingdom some will accept while others will ignore the offer. Either way the disciples are to accept the result without argument. However, those who do not welcome the announcement are left behind. To reject the message is to reject Jesus himself and to reject him is also to reject God so a lot hangs on how the message is received.
Luke finishes his description of this missionary activity by revealing the power and authority of Jesus for the seventy return with great excitement at what they have witnessed. The mission brings about a change both physical as well as spiritual, the very cosmic order is being disrupted. Truly the Gospel changes lives and even today Jesus’ disciples can be part of that change. Still Luke emphasises that the most important aspect is for each disciple to be among those who themselves hear the message of the Kingdom and accept the invitation to be welcomed.
Prayer. Father, in the resurrection of your Son death gives birth to new life; the suffering that he endured restores hope to a fallen world. Let sin never ensnare us with empty promises of passing joy. Keep us one with you always, so that our joy may be holy and our love may give strength to others. This we ask through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Uniting in Worship p.325)
Gracious Lord, may we be ready to pray to You, the Lord of the Harvest, and so be equipped that in word and deed we may be able to announce the Good News of your Kingdom with joy and also authority. Let us not be slow in understanding your call upon our lives and to always lift high the Name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. This we pray in his most precious Name. Amen.
Collect. God of the harvest, as your word goes out, your domain of peace comes near. Increase our trust in the power of the good news to bring healing and release to all, in the name of Christ our Deliverer. Amen.
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