To be sent out with no purse or provisions as lambs into the midst of wolves doesn’t sound so promising unless the success of the mission does not depend on the missionary. In fact, the kingdom of God comes near the house that welcomes peace and the house with the “No Soliciting” sign. Where the kingdom is recognized healing happens. Where it is not recognized the kingdom stands as sentence against the shortsighted as they are left to their own devices which is always less than what the kingdom offers. The dust shaking judgment anticipates the woes in the verses the lectionary leaves out. It is a litany of losers, where even sin city Sodom is better off “in that day” than the cities who choose not to welcome peace. But even those who proclaim peace don’t quite recognize the kingdom come near for they rejoice not in the name of Jesus but in the power they wield with his name. Jesus redirects their joy from submitting spirits to their names written in the final kingdom come. And if the one despised and rejected, the Lamb who led to the slaughter and before his shearers was dumb is the one who writes the names recorded in heaven maybe there is hope even for the litany of losers?
"Where it is not recognized the kingdom stands as sentence against the shortsighted as they are left to their own devices which is always less than what the kingdom offers." One of several great observations.
ReplyDeleteI wonder sometimes, though, what that means for us? OK, I love that there is hope even for the "litany of losers", of which I am one. But, it would be easier to proclaim the Kingdom with some authority if we could "cure the sick who are there", etc. In our present manifestation we're left guessing at times, without a clear sense of "authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy." I'm thinking that these 70 had a comparatively easy go of it.
True, though I wonder if it was any different than when I return from a Via de Cristo weekend where by comparison I’ve had a pretty easy go of it. And maybe more to the point the kingdom experienced in pain and suffering is as liberating when it is seen in healing and wholeness. Don’t rejoice in the here and now even if spirits submit to you, because the “nothing can harm you” is due to not to your ability to tread on snakes and scorpions but that your names are recorded in the final kingdom come.
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