Gospel
Lesson for the Week
June 15, 2008
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Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Please read
Matthew 9:35-10:23
Read
also
Genesis 18:1-15
Psalm 116:1-2
Psalm 116:12-19
Romans 5:1-8
Then Jesus went about all
the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the
good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When
he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed
and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, "The
harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of
the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Then Jesus summoned his twelve
disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out,
and to cure every disease and every sickness….
These twelve Jesus sent out with the
following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of
the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, proclaim the good news,
'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Cure the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give
without payment. … "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the
midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of
them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you… and you will be
dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and
the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to
speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you
at that time…”
--- Matthew 9:35-10:1; 10:5-8; 10:16-19
The Cost of Discipleship
In his enthusiasm,
the gospel writer delves in
superlatives beyond our
imagining,
defying both our experience and
reason.
Jesus went to “all the cities”
(Really, all?)
curing “every
disease and sickness?”
We can excuse such hyperbole,
considering his wide-eyed
astonishment
at Jesus’ power,
but even more, his awe
at the level of the Master’s
caring.
The next part is easier to
believe:
“He had compassion for them”
No wonder, when you consider
their state:
“harassed and helpless,”
dispirited and distressed,
so he went on doing what he’d
come to do:
teaching,
preaching the Good News of the
Kingdom,
healing the sick.
And knowing the unfavorable
ratio
of task to manpower, harvest to
laborers,
he added a wrinkle to his
discipling;
he gave
them authority
and sent them out to do his
work.
And thus authorized and
empowered,
they did it, just as he said,
facing predictable hazards and
opposition.
Now, it gives us pause,
when we reflect on our own
calling,
and realize that discipleship
is more than singing
a Power Point praise song
in a feel-good fellowship.
It takes a compassionate heart,
and energy and cash to back it
up.
It takes sweat.
And sometimes tears and blood.
That being the case, it’s no
wonder
that he had only 12 back then.
The question is:
Will I be numbered
among the disciple band
when I have counted the cost?
--- rvc
The next
Gospel Lesson is scheduled to appear on
Monday, June
16, 2008.
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. Please also note that while we're unable to quote Bible scripture on these pages, it is permissible to redirect our viewers to Bible passages using hyperlinks to web sites having that authority. The Verse Of The Day and BibleGateway Search engine are the property on BibleGateway.com and are used here with their specific permission.
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