Reverend Philip Stringer
Luke 10:17-20
LET US PRAY: We ask, O Lord, that the words which we hear this morning, and the worship which we offer, may bear fruit in our hearts and be acceptable in your sight, our strength and our redeemer. AMEN
We have a knack for missing the point.
By “we,” I mean human beings. We have a knack for missing the point. It is like the most useless superpower ever — our inability to comprehend what matters; to see what is right in front of us.
You know the saying, that “hindsight is 20/20.” Why can’t foresight be like that? Why can’t our perception of the present be like that?
I think of all the time I have wasted in my life on things that don’t matter. I wonder about the money that has been spent of frivolous products.
I think of how television has impacted my life and truly the course of human history — we can shape our view of the world to what suits us best simply by changing the channel.
I think about the Bible — and in a manner of speaking one could sum it up by saying that it is the signpost that seeks to make us aware of what matters — to draw our attention away from all of the glitter and smoke and mirrors that beguile us.
I think of human psychology and how easily we are manipulated. We hear what we want to hear. See what we want to see.
I think of the hate and divisiveness that characterizes so much of the political momentum these days. The vitriol and lies that are so clearly and obviously lies — but people just gobble them up. Bluster that is masquerading as action but has no substance.
I think about these things and am reminded of words from Second Timothy: “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”
I think about Pontius Pilate — staring right into the face of Jesus Christ and blindly asking, “What is truth?”
I think of the literal meaning of the word, “ignorant.” The state of ignoring facts.
I think of how the church throughout history has forgotten its purpose — How Martin Luther “discovered” the gospel — buried within the church — but it had been there all along.
We have a knack for missing the point.
Our Gospel reading for today reminds us — draws us back from distractions — to remind us that all authority in heaven and on earth are centered in Jesus — and issue from the Father — our God who is good and who holds us safely in his hands.
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He was on his way to the cross when he sent out more than 70 of his followers to “prepare the way” — to do ministry in his name.
When they returned they were so excited: “Lord, even the demons submit to us when we speak in your name!” They were excited to have power over demons.
His response to them is interesting.
“Don’t rejoice that the demons submit to you. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
We have a knack for missing the point.
Ultimately, Jesus isn’t really concerned with demons and such. Jesus didn’t come for them. He came for us. That’s the point. Demons and all of that are a distraction.
What the 72 failed to see was that it’s not about the 72. It’s about the source of all authority — God the Father. With his words, Jesus seeks to redirect their attention; reshape their perception of what is worthy of their awe: Rejoice that the ultimate authority is with God, who is Good; who overcomes evil; who claims you as his own; who writes your names in heaven. Not because of who you are, but because of who he is. Rejoice. You are safe. Nothing they do to you can change that.
It is noteworthy that when Jesus sent them out, he instructed them concerning their mission. “Wherever you go, the first thing you are to do is to bless them. Then accept whatever hospitality they share with you. And when you leave, commend them to God.” He doesn’t say anything about casting out demons or putting them in their place. What he DOES talk about is how we treat one another, and what he tells them is to be kind and gracious and welcoming and thankful.
When you enter a home, say, “Peace to this house.”
There’s that word again — which we spoke about last week: peace.
Through the authority of Jesus, there can be peace in any place at any time — even when it is embroiled in chaos and violence and fear.
In nothing will he (the enemy) hurt you.
I think of a verse from the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress:”
Were they to take our house
goods, honor, child or spouse;
Though life be wrenched away
they cannot win the day.
The kingdom’s ours forever!
Jesus sent them as messengers of good news.
Messenger is the meaning of the word, “angel.” Angels deliver messages. They bring good news.
Today is the Church’s celebration of St. Michael and All Angels. Angels as messengers of God are instruments of God for bringing about God’s will.
Don’t be distracted by modern notions of angels. Cute, sweet. Delicate. wings and halos and harps. “Oh, she’s our little angel!”
In Scripture, angels are work horses. They proclaim. They bless. They smite. They deliver. They reveal.
We are God’s messengers today. The slogan of the ELCA is “God’s work. Our hands.” That is what it means to be an angel.
Literally — we are St. Michael Lutheran Church. We are modern day angels. We have a message for the world, and we proclaim that message in many ways.
But we have a knack for missing the point. It is the natural way of things with people that the more we do something, the less we think about it. It becomes common and so it becomes less noteworthy to us. We easily forget the meaning behind words and actions.
Here this morning we have work to do, praising God and praying for the world. And when we leave here, we have work to do out there. God sends you forth as instruments of peace and justice in the world.
Today, our Gospel reading reminds us that it is critical that we not forget who we are — God’s messengers in the world.
(point out people in worship— leaders on Sunday morning— as angels. Reference that) all of you go to the places to which you always go —as God’s messengers.
Last Wednesday, I sat with Lynn and others serving on the Social Ministry committee.
This year by their efforts to coordinate your work — we have already supported the homeless, orphans and veterans. The hungry.
This morning, large parts of the southeast — and notably for us, western North Carolina in particular — is grappling with the effects of Hurricane Helene. Asheville, Hendersonville, and so many other communities are inundated. Chimney Rock is apparently just “gone.” Lives uprooted, torn apart and smothered.
Lutheran Disaster Response is already in action. LDR has existed for a long time, but about 2 years ago there was a special grant made to our region to fund a coordinator for Lutheran Disaster Response of the Carolinas and they have been working hard to help congregations plan for emergencies.
Our synod — and LDR — are already on the move — and you and I through our offerings are there with them.
The bishop of our synod, Time Smith, sent an email yesterday:
As bishop of the NC Synod, but also as a cradle western North Carolina Lutheran and the father/in-law/grandfather of eight people in Asheville, having served almost 17 years in Boone, as a lover of our camps—Lutheridge and Lutherock, and just as a human being, my heart aches for the unprecedented devastation beyond imagination in our beloved and beautiful mountains of NC.
We can't yet know what we're facing in terms of damage enough to formulate recovery plans because of lack of physical access and cell towers down, but I do know two things. Lutheran Disaster Response, in partnership with our synod, along with other helpers, will be there for the long haul, and we will rally around our congregations, camps, and communities. Since we can't get to you to help right now, we are praying and sending money—our neighbor-love-in-storage that we are releasing to their management.
We also are praying. Remember, we're both/and people: prayers AND financial assistance. And eventually also our presence, accompaniment, and sweat.
We have work to do. We are angels. We are messengers.
God’s work. Our hands.
AMEN
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