The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for July 3 was as response to Luke 10.1-11, 16-20, and was preached extemporaneously based on the notes below.
- “I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.” Nothing will hurt you
- Jesus sends messengers ahead of him to get people ready for him. 70 pairs.
- They believe that Jesus has good news: God’s reign is at hand.
- We’re at church, so we get to hear it to, and we can be here for reminders or reassurances
- Conspirituality -> “Christian beliefs” guns anxiety vs faith and confidence
- Lot has changed in my absence: Buffalo, Uvalde, Supreme Court term. Lot to be anxious about
- Important to realize the real world impacts and fears, the real world concerns, and that Jesus was God and human, God cares for the concerns of humans
- As the disciples are sent out in pairs, they are undoubtedly anxious too.
- “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.”
- That would make me anxious too. I try to travel light, but I like to take something with me! But Jesus sets up with. “I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you”
- It’s okay for us to feel our feelings, to have our concerns, to be anxious, and to worry. It’s important not to theologize pain or use escapism of religion to say it doesn’t matter.
- We’re here today to be told that it does, and that it’s not the end. Jesus’ disciples go ahead of him to tell people to repent and believe in the Good News: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
- Psalm: Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning.
- We’re here for that assurance while we’re also being charged to do the same: go out into our neighborhoods, to our friends and families, to the 125 houses on our block, and farther to tell them that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and Jesus’ reign is breaking in.
- We get to ask ourselves do we trust Jesus? It’s good to doubt and to question and to hold elected officials accountable. It’s normal to wrestle with our faiths. But do we trust Jesus?
- “I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.”