And as you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"

 

 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.  

 

"Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

 

- Matthew 10:5-15 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:  first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. 

 

  These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food."  My study Bible explains that the disciples' mission is like Christ's:  to preach and to heal.  It asks us to note that Jesus sends them only to the Jews.  It says that Christ's earthly ministry was focused on the Jews (Matthew 15:24) so that, after the Resurrection, the Jews could not blame the disciples for going "to uncircumcised men" (Acts 11:3).  Jesus is preparing them to be single-minded in their mission to preach and to heal.  First He emphasizes for them that His power is free; that is, it is a gift from God.  And second, He teaches them to carry no money, so that they cannot be accused of greed -- and so that they would learn dependence upon God. 

 

 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"  My study Bible notes that Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, the same peace that was proclaimed by the prophets (Isaiah 52:7), that Christ Himself will offer to the disciples (John 14:27; 20:19), and that would be revealed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  

 

Let us look at some elements of Christ's commissioning and instructions to the disciples on this first apostolic journey which may seem somehow contradictory to us.  Perhaps to modern ears, we're used to thinking of "good" and "bad" in terms of what loving behavior is, and what it is not.  But the truth of Christ is a kind of two-edged sword, if we can put it in such metaphorical terms, as did St. Paul (Hebrews 4:12).  We either embrace that truth or we don't.  We either embrace His gospel message, or we don't.  And as the Person who is truth (John 14:6), we receive Him or we don't.  That is, the fullness of His message, His person, His grace is the complete expression of truth into which we seek to grow as we enter into communion with Him.  So there is a type of double-edged quality to the mission and instructions with which He sends out these disciples now chosen to become apostles.  The apostles' character and demeanor must be one of peace and humility, just as Christ Triumphal Entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem was that begins what we know as Holy Week (Matthew 21:1-11), as conveyed in His being seated on the colt of a donkey.  They will carry no money, nor will they dress ostentatiously.  They will be dependent upon how they are received wherever they go.  They are not to "trade up" for better accommodations, but stay in the first place where they are welcomed ("stay there till you go out").  As my study Bible pointed out, these apostles are to greet every household where they go to preach, presumably with the common greeting of offering peace.  But Jesus tells them something that stands out in a modern world that doesn't often understand discernment.  He instructs the apostles, "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet."  As the disciples do not go out into the world in their own names, they go out in the name of Christ, and He has given them His power to take into the world to do its healing work on so many levels, including the offering of His peace.  If they are rejected, so it is Christ's power and mission and grace that is rejected; Christ's peace is rejected, so it will return to the apostles.  To shake the dust from their feet is a rebuke, but it's also symbolic.  We are reminded that Christ is also the judge, and He will judge at the end of the age.  Is our final end only to be that dust?  (See Genesis 3:19.)  His words affirm this power of judgment:  "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"   In the world, the work of the Holy Spirit, the power of God, works as a kind of measure.  We accept the promptings and work of the Spirit, or we do not.  But this "measure" is something that bears fruit in the final judgment of Christ.  We all have a lifetime to work out what we love and what we don't, what we accept and that which we reject.  Only Christ can judge, and only God knows the true heart of people.  Let us take seriously these instructions given to the disciples, for the power they carry with them is not only the grace and power of Christ at work in ministry, to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons."  As they have freely received of Christ, so they are to freely give.  This includes as well the peace of Christ, and the power of His word.  Moreover, with them, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."  God's grace and love is freely given, but we are also free to reject it.  However, the reality of the power of God is the very reality of life and existence itself, even of all creation.  We should understand the power of Christ's healing word and grace, and what we reject for ourselves when we can't or don't receive it.  It carries the power of forgiveness for sins, a great healing grace indeed, and the love to heal us spiritually, to heal the soul.  Consider what is turned down, in turning away that grace, and what remains without it.    The lost sheep are those He seeks; without the Shepherd, we remain only lost.  But yet still, He offers us the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you

 

 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.  

 

Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

 

- Matthew 10:5–15 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:  first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

 

 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food."  My study Bible comments that the disciples' mission is like Christ's:  to preach and to heal.  Note that Jesus sends them only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  My study Bible says that Christ's earthly ministry was focused on the Jews (Matthew 15:24) so that, after the Resurrection, the Jews could not blame the  disciples for going "to uncircumcised men" (Acts 11:3).  It notes that Jesus prepares the disciples to be single-minded in their mission to preach and heal.  He first reminds them that His power is free, in fact, a gift from God; and then instructs them to carry no money so that they cannot be accused of greed, and also so they would learn dependence upon God.  

 

"Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.  But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"  My study Bible notes here that Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, which is the same peace that was proclaimed by the prophets (Isaiah 52:7), the same peace He would offer to the disciples (John 14:27, 20:19), and the same peace which would be revealed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  Note the responsibility for the acceptance or rejection of that peace rests upon those to whom it has been given, and the consequences of rejection.

What is this peace that Christ offers, and that by extension He commands His servants and representatives, the disciples sent out as apostles, to give to others?  My study Bible comments, as noted above, that it is the same peace proclaimed by the prophets.  Isaiah 52:7 says that the same One who proclaims peace is the One "who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"  Well, we certainly know who that is, for He is the One who brings the gospel to us.  Clearly the peace He offers is Himself, and is in Himself, and is extended to us in the Spirit which also gives this peace.  In a sense, this peace can also be called a confidence in Christ, for when we take heart in Christ, and find our identities in Him, we have a sense of the sureness of the rock upon which we build our home, our faith (see this reading).  Christ's peace is therefore a kind of energy (for want of a better word) or force that acts as a kind of power unto itself, and is found in His name, which we accept or reject.  Peace has also the meaning of reconciliation, and perhaps this is where we find the strongest sense of what Christ's peace is, for all things are reconciled in Christ.  In Him, all things are set in good order, and they are renewed, for He is the way, the truth, and the life not just for us, but for all of creation.  As Jesus begins His farewell discourse to the disciples at the Last Supper, He tells them (and all of us), "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1), and this, too, is a statement of peace.  For this peace is a product of trust, and trust is the root of belief as Jesus uses the word here.  In fact, in the Greek, it's the very root of the word translated as "believe."  In Whom do we trust? In what do we trust?  How are we reconciled to Christ, the One who has the way, the truth, and the life for us?  For there, in that trust, is where we find our peace, when we know that despite all our uncertainties, and troubles, and not knowing, there is a place for us we can trust in, and our loyalty to Christ is not misplaced.  For ultimately, God is love, and we know He loved us (see 1 John 4:7-11).  When we offer Christ's peace, it seems, we offer all of these things, ultimately bound up in our trust in God's love through Christ who has taught us love through His life, and taught us to love as His new commandment (John 13:34-35).  These are the things in which we trust, He is the One in whom we trust.  The peace He offers is Himself, and there is no other like Him.

 

 

 

Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof

 

 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.  So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.  And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."  Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I am also a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.  And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.  And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."  And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

 

- Luke 7:1–17 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been giving what is known as the Sermon on the Plain.  Its topics are similar to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 5 - 7).   No doubt Jesus preached His gospel in many places.  Nonetheless Luke includes teachings not found in Matthew.  We began reading this Sermon in Friday's reading last week.  Yesterday, we read the conclusion:  He spoke a parable to them:  "Can the blind lead the blind?  Will they not both fall into the ditch?  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.  For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  For every tree is known by its own fruit.  For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.  And the ruin of that house was great." 

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.  And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.  So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.  And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."  Then Jesus went with them.  And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.  Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.  But say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I am also a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"  And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.  My study Bible comments that this centurion, a Roman Gentile, is unusual in his devotion to the Jews, and this is quite remarkable about him.  My study Bible describes his notable characteristics as follows:  he has a love for God and God's people ("he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue"); he is humble ("I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof"); and, in the words of Jesus, he has great faith.

 

 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.  And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the city was with her.  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.  And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."  And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.  My study Bible tells us that this is one of three resurrections which were performed by our Lord as recorded in the Gospels (see also Luke 8:41-56; John 11:1-44).  It notes that they confirm the promise given to the prophet Ezekiel that God will one day open the graves and raise all the dead (Ezekiel 37:1-14).  It says that many people have exercised authority over the living, but only the Son of God "has power over both the living and the dead" (quoting from the Orthodox funeral service).  As Christ has power through His word alone (John 11:43), in today's instance He also touched the coffin to show that His very body is life-giving.  This event prefigures Christ's own Resurrection.  Echoing the commentary of St. Ambrose of Milan, my study Bible notes that as Mary would weep for Jesus at the Cross, yet her tears would be turned to joy by the Resurrection, here a widow's only son is raised from the dead, putting an end to her weeping.

What is truly remarkable in both episodes of Christ's healing ministry in today's reading is the level of compassion that is at work here, highlighted in these stories.  There is first of all the centurion, who is notable for his own compassionate qualities.  As noted above, although he is nominally an occupying Roman commander of soldiers in this place, the locals praise him as one who "loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."  This man has used the imperial power available to him in his position to shore up the faith of the local people and has learned to love the God of Israel.  We can see his tremendous humility, despite his worldly authority, before Christ.  He calls Jesus "Lord," and says that he is not worthy for Christ to come under his roof.  And finally, there is the display of his great faith; he understands that Jesus has power to command beyond his own, and that there are no worldly barriers to that power.  This insight arising from his faith, given all the rest that we know about him, is also deeply connected to his capacity for compassion.  And then there is the unusual story of the widow of Nain, found only here in Luke's Gospel.  Again, the emphasis here is on compassion.  It's notable that St. Ambrose of Milan would see an image of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in this story.  She is a widow who has lost her only son, her only protection and care in a difficult world.  We can't imagine her grief, I think, unless we have experienced something like it.  But the story is an illustration of the compassion of Christ in a world where sadness and loss may afflict us all; here it is the cruelty of death taking away her only son and support in the world.  The text literally tells us that Christ had compassion on her, telling her, "Do not weep."  Christ's compassion, we should note, is born of empathy, not sentimentality.  This is God emptying Himself for us, reaching out, and bringing us the gospel of the Kingdom.  Empathy reaches to solve problems, even those with difficult solutions, and is willing even to seem harsh in order to alleviate misery.  Sentimentality is a confusion of such, often simply comforting oneself.  Christ's compassion makes evident His capacity for understanding pain and suffering; it makes clear that His mission in this world against the "evil one" is all about alleviating that pain and correcting what ails us.  Just as the centurion's gracious rule is connected to his capacity for both faith and compassion, Christ's healing ministry is connected to all levels of what ails us:  body, soul, and spirit.  In the Sermon on the Plain, which we've just finished reading, the great emphasis underlying Christ's teachings was compassion.  In today's reading, we're shown what it is to live it, what it is all about.

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man

 

Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

 

 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

 

- Luke 21:29–38 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus taught the disciples, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.   And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 

Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   Jesus speaks a vow here that is as solemn as it gets:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  He is absolutely assuring His audience of disciples that this will come to pass, and that they must pay attention to the signs around them.  My study bible comments that this generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church, and not merely to those alive at the time of Christ.  Certain His warnings about Jerusalem and the coming siege and destruction were meant for His listeners who would still be alive at that time; but the rest of the warnings about the fullness of time and His second coming are meant for all of us.

 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.  Jesus warns of the time of His return in "power and great glory" (see yesterday's reading above).  He says, in another vivid image given to us, that this Day will come unexpectedly.  In fact, it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  A "snare" is a trap, one made typically for catching animals unaware.  It usually consists of a type of noose which is triggered by the animal's footsteps, and hidden in bushes or other ground cover.  It is designed to catch while the animal is unaware and going about its normal business, so to speak.  And so Jesus depicts the Day of His second coming as the same for us, if we have forgotten about what we are to be about.  This is a warning to His disciples about mindfulness, about living their faith and the gospel message.  He gives a profound warning about judgment, implying that we are to be mindful through prayer if we are to escape the "snares" of this world and their threat t our faith before His return, and also to stand before Him afterward.

It strikes me as interesting that the last few lines of today's reading speak broadly of the people.  Jesus says that His Return will come "as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth."   With His words, He then "picks out," so to speak, those who may be counted worthy to escape that snare, those who will escape all these things that will come to pass, and worthy to stand before the Son of Man.  "All these things that will come to pass" must surely mean the calamities of the world, the frightful things He has described, and as such He implies that they are the things that will try to snatch us away from our faith, from remembering who we are, from being those who will find occasion to give testimony in persecution (see Saturday's reading), and endure all the things that would derail us from our faith in whatever time we live, including wars and other disasters of this world.  But then the Gospel goes back again to words about the people.  We're told, "And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him."  It's a kind of poetic irony, because even as He's warning that His return will come as a snare to all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth, He is with those people in His own earthly life and just at that moment.  He goes and stays on Mt. Olivet, together with the rest of the pilgrims who come to Jerusalem and have no other place to stay for the Passover.  And then all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him as He teaches in the daytime in the temple.  Even as He warns of the snare to come upon all the people of the world, as Teacher and Son of Man He is with the people and they are with Him.  He is not hidden somewhere with elites or out of the way, but rather is not simply openly with the people, but by His own preference He remains with the pilgrims and the common people who all wish to hear Him.  What we might infer by all of this is that while in this world, Christ's work is to call and to approach those who might be the ones counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.  It is a reminder of the parable of the Sower, in which Christ is the Sower who scatters the seed of His word, of His gospel, to all the world.  In that parable (see this reading), Jesus gives images of seed that falls by the wayside, and then was trampled down.  Of seed devoured by the birds of the air, and seed falling on rock which springs up but withers away without moisture.  Then there is seed that falls among thorns, and when a crop springs up so do those thorns, and they choke the seed.  Yet there are still other seeds that fall on good ground, spring up, and yield a crop a hundredfold.  When Jesus speaks of the things of this world that will come to pass, and that we must pray to remain alert in our faith, and to be counted worthy to escape all of these things and to stand before Him, He is reminding us of this parable of the Sower and His warnings about all the things of this world that seek to make our faith impossible, that will fight the fruitfulness of that seed every step of the way.  In the telling of the parable, He explains His teaching as indicating those by the wayside are the ones who hear -- just like those who come to hear Him in the temple.  But the devil will come to some and take away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  The ones on the rock are those who receive the word with joy when they hear it; but without root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  Those who fall among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out but are "choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life" and they therefore bring no fruit to maturity.  These things are the snares of life in this world, the things which keep us from rootedness in our faith.   But in the parable, Jesus says,  "The ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."  His teachings about end times remind us that the calamities, difficulties, persecutions, wars, natural disasters, and all manner of problems of the age in which we live are those things we are to endure.  They are those things about which He has warned us.  He preaches to all the people, He stays with the pilgrims.  He is with us and among us, as is His Kingdom presently with us and among us.  But at some point it remains up to us to guard our faith in our hearts, to take care and nurture the seeds He planted, to make sure they have proper moisture, and that their meager and small beginnings of fruitfulness are not choked by the cares of the world, overburdened or focused on riches, nor lost in the pursuit of the pleasures of life.  For those of us caught up in modern life, we might add specifically the false lure of "fame" in image on social media, and the delusion of seeking to keep up with what we think we see.  Let us be those among all the people to whom He scatters and sows His seeds who may endure to be counted worthy of escaping all the things which will come to pass and to stand before Him.  But we can't do it without being aware that His return will surely come, that there will be an end to the things we know, and that there is truly a great thing to be cherished in being one who may stand before Him.  All the rest of our lives may conspire for us to forget that and to lose ourselves in the life of this world -- either too weighed down by it to remember what is important, or lost in finding ways to simply forget our troubles.  We can see such alternatives and the wreckage they leave behind all around us.  Let us instead find refuge in Him and His grace, the life He offers, the peace "without understanding" He gives, the grace and love and tender mercies of His Kingdom.  For they are real and they call to us, His seed awaits our good faith, and His hand is out in offer of His grace and communion instead.  Jesus stays with the people in humility, and it is there our most potent weapon lies for remembering who we truly are and where our home is -- with the One who loves us best and in whom we may place our trust.

 

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword

Christ with sword, fresco, 14th cent., Sacred Monastery of the Ascension of Christ (Visoki Dečani) church, Kosovo

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who dos not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.  And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

- Matthew 10:34-42

In chapter 10 we've been reading about Jesus preparing the Twelve to be sent out on their first apostolic mission.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught:  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!  Therefore do not fear them.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword."  My study bible comments that just before Christ's extremely violent death on the Cross, He promised peace to His disciples (see John 14:27).  But, my study bible says, the existence of evil necessitates spiritual warfare.  The earth to which Christ came was under the authority of Satan (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4).  In this kind of warfare, my study bible adds, it is essential for Christ to do battle against the leader of vice with weapons of virtue (Ephesians 6:11-18).  Jesus speaks of peace and division, even of the sword, on spiritual terms.  His peace is an internal rest in Him; His sword is His word of truth (see Hebrews 4:12).

"For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who dos not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  Jesus speaks to the fulfillment of the prophesy of Micah 7:6.  My study bible says that in addition to the literal meaning here, which has been experienced in the Church since the time of Christ, the older generation being divided from the younger also symbolizes the change to the new covenant and its rejection by followers of the old, as well as the internal spiritual struggle between our old state and the work of the Holy Spirit -- ongoing conversion and repentance (in Greek, literally, "change of mind") and our renewal in Christ (see Ephesians 4:20-24).  In addition, to carry his cross, means a depth of commitment that we can't estimate.   This spiritual sword of Christ's word and truth, the impact of His peace that we must accept, may be so deep as to necessitate even the sacrifice of family relationships.  Christ assures us that this is where our true treasure is, what is worthy.

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.  And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."  My study bible notes that apostles are ambassadors, who represent the Lord.  Therefore, by extension, all who offer help to them are showing mercy directly to Christ, and will receive God's reward (see 25:40).

Jesus emphasizes, in varied ways, the spiritual nature of the project upon which the apostles are about to embark.  That is, He emphasizes that what they are doing isn't merely a worldly mission, but that it is also -- at the same time -- a spiritual mission.  They carry with them the Kingdom; they have been instructed to each as they go, saying "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."   Some people might mistake the military images, here in the Gospel and also in the Epistles, for allusions to physical combat or war, but they would be entirely mistaken, and lacking in understanding of Scripture.  When Jesus says He did not come to bring peace but a sword, Jesus is speaking of a spiritual battle in the world.  The sword is the word of truth that He brings.  The peace of which Jesus speaks is also not a worldly peace.  His peace, my study bible says, is not the false peace of a kind of shallow harmony which is the result of ignoring issues of truth.  Genuine peace has spiritual fullness, and includes a reconciliation to God, a surrender to spiritual truth in faith.  This peace is the peace which Jesus gives us, an internal peace which "surpasses all understanding," as it is not dependent upon external factors.  We find it when we rest in trust and abiding in God in faith, finding a way to supersede worldly circumstances.  It is like taking a moment to rest in prayer, and seeking out solitude to do so, even when there are squabbles around oneself.  Can this peace translate itself into circumstances around us?  Of course it can, as we seek to live it and share it.  But, my study bible says, this true peace of spiritual nature also has division as a byproduct, because not everyone wants that truth.  In fact, in this fallen world, it says, divisions are necessary for truth to be manifest (see 1 Corinthians 11:18-19).  Jesus further emphasizes the spiritual nature of preaching the Gospel when He teaches that "he who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."  He speaks of a connection between those who bear the Kingdom and those who will receive what they bring.  If whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and those who receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward, then whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."   What we are to understand is that although we see only the worldly dimensions of life, there is a spiritual reality that is at work through faith, which the apostles carry with them.  And by extension, true faith will carry with us when we choose to live as His disciples, to do His word, to live His truth in the world.  This is not simple to understand, it doesn't not necessarily manifest instantaneously, in real time -- for even Christ, we see in the Gospels, refuses to issues proofs on demand.  Therefore it is highly unlikely that without faith, we will never understand it.  But it is a promise, and it is, nevertheless, a reality experienced by countless faithful over twenty centuries of faith in Christ, and through the work of the Spirit which is everywhere present and fills all things.  Surely we must know how much we need this peace, even when all others relinquish their place in it.  Let us dwell within His faith and truth, and sustain ourselves in His peace with our prayers for ourselves and for one another -- even for all the faithful, both seen and unseen.

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me

 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.    He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.  And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

- Matthew 10:34-42

In our readings in Matthew chapter 10, Jesus is preparing those twelve  He has chosen to send out on the first apostolic mission.  (See readings from Monday and Tuesday.)  In yesterday's reading, He continued:  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!  Therefore do not fear them.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword."   My study bible notes that just before Jesus' most violent death on the Cross, He promised peace to His disciples.  But the existence of evil, it says, necessitates spiritual warfare.  The earth to which Christ came was under the authority of Satan (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4).  Therefore it is essential that Christ wage war against the leader of vice with weapons of virtue (Ephesians 6:11-18).  Another note in a similar passage in Luke reminds us that there are two kinds of peace.  There is a false peace, which is a shallow harmony that results from ignoring issues of truth.  But genuine peace is a reconciliation to God through faith in Christ and surrender to truth.  Genuine peace has division as a byproduct, because not everyone wants truth.  In the fallen world, my study bible says, divisions are necessary for truth to be manifest (see 1 Corinthians 11:18-19).

"For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'"  This fulfills the prophecy of Micah 7:6, from which Jesus is quoting.  In addition to its literal meaning, which my study bible says has been experienced in the Church since the time of Christ, the picture of the older generation being divided from the younger generation also symbolizes the rejection of the new covenant by followers of the old covenant, as well as the spiritual struggle between our old, sinful state and our renewal in Christ (see Ephesians 4:20-24).  It is a picture of spiritual struggle in many dimensions.

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.   He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."   Jesus Himself is the fulcrum, the central figure around which all else gathers meaning and relationship (12:30).  He boldly places Himself as Son in this position, and teaches what it is to be a disciple.

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.  And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."  Here is another extension of meaning which is given through relationship to Christ.  My study bible says that apostles are ambassadors who represent the Lord.  Therefore, all who extend help to them are showing mercy directly to Christ, and will receive God's reward (see 25:40). 

Jesus' life isn't something we can limit to a set of circumstances or events that happened 2,000 years ago.  Here He quite clearly indicates that the life that is in Him, and that which commands discipleship, has an extension and a meaning and a presence that goes far beyond what we normally think of as the life of a person in this world.  Christ Himself becomes that which gives meaning and value and relationship.  His truth ("I am the way, the truth, and the life" - John 14:6) becomes the truth that is the center dividing line between all things and against which all else is measured and given meaning.  Indeed, as the quotation from John indicates, He is that truth.  St. Paul writes, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).  And Jesus is also that Word (John 1:1).  His Person, His presence, fills things with meaning and gives us a dividing line between all things, even to the point of our closest relationships.  His call is for a loyalty that comes between everything, even piercing to the division of soul and spirit, as St. Paul says, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart.  The power of God's word gives us true relationship and teaches us about both love and peace.  What is love, if it is not measured against the love He teaches us?  Relationships have all kinds of flaws and faults, but it is God who teaches us the measure of our love.  It is the Lord who gives us a sense of how precious are our souls, how beloved we are in God's sight, even when others fail us.  There is a transcendence here that asks of us to see more clearly what is what, and gives to us things the world cannot give.  We are asked to align ourselves with that love and with that presence, to live and dwell in it, to participate in it.  It extends its meanings and values to us, illuminating everything else, and extending itself to our deepest relationships which stand or fall depending on that reflection.  Do we have love?  Do we need His truth a little more deeply?  Where do our loyalties lie -- and where is our peace to be found?  This is what it is to take up His cross and follow Him.  We understand our lives by His light.  We shed that light upon others.  To reject or accept is to know what choice is, and where division lies.