Isaiah 35:5-8; 2 Timothy 4:4-18; St Luke 10:1-9
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
He sends them out two by two. It is like the Ark in reverse. For Christ, who is the Ark of Life, shall ferry them across the stormy waters of death by His own death, now sends out His disciples to proclaim the coming reign and rule of God.
Indeed the reign has come. It has come in the flesh of their Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself heals the sick, eats with sinners, and proclaims the arrival of the Kingdom in the person and work of the King. He sends out the seventy-two as His emissaries; those who have forsaken worldly provisions for the sake of the Gospel. By their preaching the Kingdom of God comes upon those who hear the Word in which the Holy Spirit works to create and sustain saving faith.
And note this: they do not go alone. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone by anyone. God does not make anonymous Christians. He creates them to exist in community. Atheism sends you on your way in isolation. But not Christianity. The entire time we live and walk that highway of holiness, of which Isaiah spoke, we walk that road in the company of others; as the prophet wrote at the end of the chapter: The redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing (Is 35:9-10).
St Paul mentioned some of his dear companions: Luke who stuck with him; his wish to see John Mark again; his friend Tychicus sent off to Ephesus. Members of one family, brothers united by a bond stronger than earthly kinship - united together in Christ by the waters of Holy Baptism and given to one another for eternity. Children of the heavenly Father brought together by the Word, walking together toward the glorious renewal of this creation that would come about when their Brother and ours returns.
But sometimes, far too often it seems, that in our walking the way of the Lord there is a lonely stretch or two. St Paul experienced this: At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.
Fear not, dear brothers, for our Lord Jesus, who has sent you on your way, who has placed you in your vocations and given you His Word, gives you companions upon this way, brothers and sisters in Him. But they are sinners. They are frail men and women of faith. And sometimes they will let you down. Sometimes the one that you thought was a rock upon which to lean will fail. This does not mean you are meant to walk the way alone. Though St Paul was deserted during his first trial, he was not alone! In that frightful moment when all his fellow pilgrims left his side, the faithful Pilgrim remained: the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.
Even in the darkest moments of the journey, when you ache for a human companion to be with you, you will find that is exactly what you have: a good Shepherd who fearlessly walks with you into the valley of the shadow of death. He knows the way in and He knows the way out. He walked it already. He has gone the way of sorrow and suffering, death and the grave, and has returned to take you. He has made a path for you to walk with Him; even as He is the path and the Way.
This is not the horrible theology and sappiness of those old Footprints pictures and calendars. This is the rock solid promise of the Lord of the harvest, who Himself brought the reign of God near to you in the waters of Holy Baptism; plunging you into His forgiveness of sins, giving you the provisions of His mercy - the moneybag of heaven’s treasures, the sandals of His peace, the greeting of His love and joy.
This companionship means everything. This is why St Paul can pray for the forgiveness of those who abandoned him. And he can leave vengeance to the Lord against Alexander the coppersmith. Why the seventy-two can go where the Lord sends them without concern for daily bread. For He shall supply bread for the body even as He delivers through their Word bread for the soul.
For the One who sends out the seventy-two, His emissaries, is the One who goes after them. He also goes before them and with them and between them, as that old poem of St Patrick said: “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”
This is the companionship and community that exists in Christ and His Church, among His brothers and those He sends out to carry His Word and promise. For He has gone the way before them. And before you. His goodness and mercy shall follow after you. For He is the One who was sent by the Father as a Lamb in the midst of wolves, as a Lamb sent to slaughter. He was stripped of His possessions - moneybag, knapsack, sandals. Everyone deserted and left Him; none greeted Him. By His chastisement you are at peace.
Today we remember and give thanks to God for St Luke the Evangelist; companion of St Paul. As the evangelists are each depicted with different winged figure, St Luke is represented as a winged bull. For His Gospel begins with the priest Zechariah offering sacrifice and it presents Christ as the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was cut off and alone for you, that you may not be. He was abandoned and betrayed, in order that you be kept safe and secure in the Ark of the Church. He forgave those who crucified and nailed Him to the Cross. That is, He forgives you.
For in His resurrection Christ comes among His disciples, His dear companions, and the first Word He speaks to them is peace. Peace be with you. He send them out to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His Name to all the earth.
And so it is that the Word goes forth, His Word of reconciliation and peace uttered by His emissaries around the world.
So it is spoken here, in this place, in this House, among you. The surpassing peace of Christ that forgives all your sins, that joins you to Him and to one another in suffering and in joy. For by your Baptism into Christ you are all sons of peace, receiving in faith His Word. It is by His Word that His Kingdom comes to you even now. Eat and drink what He provides, His own Body and Blood, the medicine of immortality, bestowing the abiding peace of the Divine Physician.
Indeed the Lord will rescue you from every evil deed and bring you safely into His heavenly Kingdom; to Him together with the Father and + the Holy Spirit, one God, be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
He sends them out two by two. It is like the Ark in reverse. For Christ, who is the Ark of Life, shall ferry them across the stormy waters of death by His own death, now sends out His disciples to proclaim the coming reign and rule of God.
Indeed the reign has come. It has come in the flesh of their Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself heals the sick, eats with sinners, and proclaims the arrival of the Kingdom in the person and work of the King. He sends out the seventy-two as His emissaries; those who have forsaken worldly provisions for the sake of the Gospel. By their preaching the Kingdom of God comes upon those who hear the Word in which the Holy Spirit works to create and sustain saving faith.
And note this: they do not go alone. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone by anyone. God does not make anonymous Christians. He creates them to exist in community. Atheism sends you on your way in isolation. But not Christianity. The entire time we live and walk that highway of holiness, of which Isaiah spoke, we walk that road in the company of others; as the prophet wrote at the end of the chapter: The redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing (Is 35:9-10).
St Paul mentioned some of his dear companions: Luke who stuck with him; his wish to see John Mark again; his friend Tychicus sent off to Ephesus. Members of one family, brothers united by a bond stronger than earthly kinship - united together in Christ by the waters of Holy Baptism and given to one another for eternity. Children of the heavenly Father brought together by the Word, walking together toward the glorious renewal of this creation that would come about when their Brother and ours returns.
But sometimes, far too often it seems, that in our walking the way of the Lord there is a lonely stretch or two. St Paul experienced this: At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.
Fear not, dear brothers, for our Lord Jesus, who has sent you on your way, who has placed you in your vocations and given you His Word, gives you companions upon this way, brothers and sisters in Him. But they are sinners. They are frail men and women of faith. And sometimes they will let you down. Sometimes the one that you thought was a rock upon which to lean will fail. This does not mean you are meant to walk the way alone. Though St Paul was deserted during his first trial, he was not alone! In that frightful moment when all his fellow pilgrims left his side, the faithful Pilgrim remained: the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.
Even in the darkest moments of the journey, when you ache for a human companion to be with you, you will find that is exactly what you have: a good Shepherd who fearlessly walks with you into the valley of the shadow of death. He knows the way in and He knows the way out. He walked it already. He has gone the way of sorrow and suffering, death and the grave, and has returned to take you. He has made a path for you to walk with Him; even as He is the path and the Way.
This is not the horrible theology and sappiness of those old Footprints pictures and calendars. This is the rock solid promise of the Lord of the harvest, who Himself brought the reign of God near to you in the waters of Holy Baptism; plunging you into His forgiveness of sins, giving you the provisions of His mercy - the moneybag of heaven’s treasures, the sandals of His peace, the greeting of His love and joy.
This companionship means everything. This is why St Paul can pray for the forgiveness of those who abandoned him. And he can leave vengeance to the Lord against Alexander the coppersmith. Why the seventy-two can go where the Lord sends them without concern for daily bread. For He shall supply bread for the body even as He delivers through their Word bread for the soul.
For the One who sends out the seventy-two, His emissaries, is the One who goes after them. He also goes before them and with them and between them, as that old poem of St Patrick said: “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”
This is the companionship and community that exists in Christ and His Church, among His brothers and those He sends out to carry His Word and promise. For He has gone the way before them. And before you. His goodness and mercy shall follow after you. For He is the One who was sent by the Father as a Lamb in the midst of wolves, as a Lamb sent to slaughter. He was stripped of His possessions - moneybag, knapsack, sandals. Everyone deserted and left Him; none greeted Him. By His chastisement you are at peace.
Today we remember and give thanks to God for St Luke the Evangelist; companion of St Paul. As the evangelists are each depicted with different winged figure, St Luke is represented as a winged bull. For His Gospel begins with the priest Zechariah offering sacrifice and it presents Christ as the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was cut off and alone for you, that you may not be. He was abandoned and betrayed, in order that you be kept safe and secure in the Ark of the Church. He forgave those who crucified and nailed Him to the Cross. That is, He forgives you.
For in His resurrection Christ comes among His disciples, His dear companions, and the first Word He speaks to them is peace. Peace be with you. He send them out to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His Name to all the earth.
And so it is that the Word goes forth, His Word of reconciliation and peace uttered by His emissaries around the world.
So it is spoken here, in this place, in this House, among you. The surpassing peace of Christ that forgives all your sins, that joins you to Him and to one another in suffering and in joy. For by your Baptism into Christ you are all sons of peace, receiving in faith His Word. It is by His Word that His Kingdom comes to you even now. Eat and drink what He provides, His own Body and Blood, the medicine of immortality, bestowing the abiding peace of the Divine Physician.
Indeed the Lord will rescue you from every evil deed and bring you safely into His heavenly Kingdom; to Him together with the Father and + the Holy Spirit, one God, be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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