Sent Out Like Lambs

 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.” I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. ‘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!’ Luke 10:1-17

We can be made vulnerable at any age. Thrust into a new environment with strange practices and people. we can quickly find ourselves feeling awkward or even "unsafe." Too often we confuse awkwardness with danger, and quickly move to the fight, freeze or flight reactions when in these circumstances. We can remind ourselves, in these situations, that the Lord of Life.is with us as we are sent out into new and strange situations. 

Gracious Creator, who abides with us

you are with us at the center and the edge

you find us when we are lost and alone

and you bring us home abounding with joy.

We grow fearful as the world changes

we think our lives are under threat

we can forget that we are never alone

and your power surrounds our weaknesses.

Help us to see your loving presence daily

help us to love our the ever changing world

let us bravely go forth sharing the blessings

of never being alone when you send us out. Amen.