Proper 9C

When I was in college, I started dating a guy I really liked.

We dated for three years, through study abroad school terms,

both of us finishing college,

me starting seminary and the process to become an Episcopal priest,

him surviving the Tuscaloosa tornadoes, and starting a master's degree.

By the summer before my last year at seminary, I was starting to look towards the future.

I was thinking about where I would go after seminary, what kind of ministry I would find,

sorting my way through the difficult process of a resigning bishop

and wondering if or when I was going to be ordained.

In the midst of all the conversations about the future, 

he realized he didn't want to be with me for the long haul

and that signaled the end of our relationship.

After we broke up, I felt so rejected for a long time.

Then, just a couple of months after we broke up,

I got wonderful news.

The date for my diaconate ordination was set. I was going to be ordained.

I was so excited!!!

I immediately set about telling everyone.

I mean, everyone.

Including my ex-boyfriend and his family.

Even though I had felt rejected I wanted to share the good news.

I wanted everyone to know, even if they might not care or want to listen.

I think this is how Jesus feels about his good news.

He has this amazing news to share with everyone,

everyone and anyone,

doesn't matter if they want to listen or not.

Jesus wants everyone to know:

The Kingdom of God has come near!

In the Gospel passage for today from Luke,

we hear the familiar story about Jesus sending out the seventy to go forth in pairs

to share the good news ahead of him,

so that people would be prepared to receive him.

Most of the time when this passage is read,

I've heard people focus on the mission that the apostles are given.

Go and share.

Sharing the Good News is an extremely important part of our calling as Christians.

During my time in ministry,

I have focused on the mission given to the apostles. 

I have also focused on the fact that we don't need to take anything,

God will provide.

For surely many fail to go because they don't feel like they are prepared to go.

God takes care of us when we do God's work.

When reading this passage, I've seen the bit about relationship with God before,

it isn't the power the apostles have that is important.

And this is where God's wisdom is foolish to human ears.

Consistently across the last four, five, six, millennia,

human beings know that power is important.

It is important to know who has the power in the room.

Power is how you gain control and security!

Yet, God isn't interested in the power plays,

God wants true relationships.

Jesus is not success driven but relationship driven.

We are not to rejoice in what we have accomplished, 

for truly it is not us, 

but God within us.

We are to rejoice in our relationship with God, 

that our names are written in heaven. 

We are known to God.

I can understand the excitement of the apostles though,

I would have been so excited as well,

Look what I did! We did amazing things!

But Jesus focuses on the most important things.

Jesus focuses on the more important part of the story,

they are in relationship with God and they know God

and because they are in relationship, 

they trust God and God works through and with them.

Indeed, this passage has so many good aspects to it,

and I have delved into all of these,

but the one I only noticed this time around,

its amazing how we notice different things at different times in our lives,

was this one:

When Jesus tells the apostles what to do when someone rejects them,

his instructions

INCLUDE

telling the apostles to share the Good News with those that rejected them.

Jesus is so focused on relationships and relationship building

that he doesn't even completely reject those who reject him.

The apostles, the sent ones, 

are told to share the Good News with even those who reject them.

Which is so amazing and important to see.

Jesus says to the apostles in their instructions,

"But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, 

go out into its streets and say, 

'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. 

Yet know this: 

the kingdom of God has come near.'"

Jesus instructs the disciples spreading the Good News 

that even when they are rejected,

they are still supposed to tell the people rejecting them 

that the kingdom of God has come near.

In Luke, that is the major announcement. 

Jesus is always going around telling everyone that the kingdom of God has come near. 

The message is phrased slightly differently in each of the gospels, 

but even those who reject us are supposed to hear the Good News.

When Jesus tells the disciples to tell everyone

he means everyone.

Even those who reject us.

We are all taken care of in the kingdom of God.

Even the people who reject the kingdom of God 

and its messengers are given the good news.

It falls on deaf ears perhaps, but it is something.

They have been told.

A seed has been planted.

How often are we told good news and it falls on our own deaf ears?

We are too caught up in other things

we are too busy or frustrated with something else

or simply in a bad mood and we are going to nurse that bad mood

even if there is good news.

But if we are told,

we are given the option,

and whether we accept it at first or not,

we can always come back to it,

recognizing it for what it is.

Good News.

Amazing News.

Awesome News.

I have heard many who try to go out into the world

complain about the deafness of others to the message of Jesus.

It is not an easy task to go into the world and spread the message of hope

in a world of despair.

Yet, we have hope 

hope in the message

hope in the Good News

hope in God.

Because if we plant the seed

if we tell everyone

everyone, anyone, everyone,

even those who reject us or don't listen to us.

Perhaps someday they will hear

they will remember what you shared with them.

They will listen to the Good News and know it is for them as well.

We don't know if any of the villages which rejected Jesus at this time

later on accepted him and became disciples.

It is possible. 

All things are possible with God.

Our mission is not to make the impossible happen.

Our mission is to go forth and share,

and let God take care of the rest.

We are go to out into the world

and share the Good News

even to those who do not want to listen.

The Kingdom of God has come near.

It is near to you and near to me.

Amen!