July 8, 2007

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Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Please Read Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Read also 2 Kings 5:1-14; Galatians 6:1-6, 7-16; Psalm 30

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.

He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.

Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.

Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!'

And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.

Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

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.'

"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!"

He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.

See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

      .      On the Job Training     .

                        (a paraphrase, sort of)

I guess that if I am to be

a member of the advance party,

preparing the way of the Lord,

I’ll need an orientation session,

and then some on-the-job training,

some field experience,

before I complete my apprenticeship.

Now let me see.

First of all I’ll need companionship.

In this business, you just can’t go solo. 

There are no lone rangers.

And anyway, even the Lone Ranger

needed Tonto and Silver.

And second lesson:

Travel light,

and waste no time and energy

in frivolous chat-chat,

(Didn’t ole J. Wesley

have something to say about that too?)

Third, find a place to stay,

and stay there,

offering your host the Peace of Christ.

(It’s never wasted)

And number four:

Accept with grace and gratitude

what’s set before you

(even broccoli).

And be loyal to your host;

don’t keep one eye open

always looking for

a better place to stay.

And now the final lesson:

Once you are situated,

do what you came to do:

Offer that place,

and everyone you see,

by every thing you do

and every word you say

the Kingdom message

of love and light and healing.

Now just remember this:

Not everyone will want

what you’re offering.

Just let it be known

in no uncertain terms

that you have done your best

so now you’re movin’ on.

At least they had their chance,

I’ll know that when we’re done at least we tried

And through it all, the Lord was by our side.

And knowing it’s his lessons I employ,

I will return to him with utmost joy.

                                                                                                --- rvc

*** D I S C L A I M E R ***

The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a formal commentary.  Rather, they are the personal reflections and original compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment.  As you read them, let your own imagination play, and let the Spirit speak to you, leading you where it will.  The Gospel Lessons reflected on this site may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise manipulated elsewhere on the internet without the expressed consent of the author.

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