The Collect
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Gospel
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 are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
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. [Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“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 in their synagogues; 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; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23)
I have often bristled at this Gospel since Jesus limits the disciples' ministry to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Most Christians today would be considered Gentiles and Samaritans. What was Jesus doing? It finally dawned on me that this was their first time on their own without their teacher. A good teacher ends the students out for a limited time and a limited range. Their capacity is limited, their understanding of other cultures and communities is limited. So, they are initially sent out to build their confidence and to learn how to serve. All of us were beginners at one time, and we had to learn in a safe and limited environment. All of the disciples became more capable and stronger because of this fidt assignment. Learning is difficult and a good teacher understands how to keep the learner safe and growing.
A Sunday Litany
Loving Creator, you give us teachers
gentle and fierce leaders who model love
who help us to grow in our faith and skill
and who walk with us in new challenges.
Lord, help us to become loving disciples in your name.
We think we know how proclaim your truth
yet these times are strange and challenging
we forget that we are students and not experts
we honor power and control instead of service.
Lord, help us to become loving disciples in your name.
You have promised to be with us in all things
in times of trouble your teaching holds fast
you limit our range for the safety of all
and you gently lead us back home again.
Lord, help us to become loving disciples in your name.
Help us to be patient as we daily learn
may our service bring forth justice.
Lord, help us to become loving disciples in your name.
Let us know our capacity and our limitations
so that we might seek you in every moment.
Lord, help us to become loving disciples in your name.
For you have walked the dusty roads before us
and you will guide us through the darkest nights.
Lord, help us to become loving disciples in your name. Amen.
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