Proper 8 C - Luke 10:1-10, 16-20
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 what they can do
to what has been done for them. Their names are written in the book of life in
the indelible ink of the blood of the lamb. 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?
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