03 Jul SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2022

What can be said about this passage? Well for starters, it reinforces a few things present in our weekly liturgy. Whatever is offered: grace, peace, communion or forgiveness comes by way of God. It is by God’s authority that even Jesus heals and foils Satan. Jesus appoints not only disciples, but other trustworthy followers to do as he would do: proclaim peace and demonstrate the kingdom of God. In order to give and receive what God makes possible, people must be invited, identified and gathered into relationships.

What else did Luke mean to communicate forty years after Jesus’ death? That traveling in pairs was safer? That instruction to not pack or stop along the way made the mission urgent? Then, as now, the potential for danger when traveling in unfamiliar territory was real. That’s why immediately declaring, “Peace to this house,” also seemed wise. The words were literally the opposite of threatening. They were more than a greeting and offered a blessing. As they are during worship, the words, “Peace be with you,” are not casual, but very intentional.

It’s the same greeting King David’s servants extend at his bidding in 1 Sam 25:6. “Peace be to you. Peace be to your house, and peace be to all that belongs to you.” “Good health, long life and prosperity to all that is yours,” other translations say. (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1-samuel/25/6) This peace is not an exchange among human beings. It is a delivery from God by those appointed. It is a gift for the receiver that comes with a card stating God is both the sender and supplier.

I’ve ordered many used books from Amazon, but one time, the book didn’t come. I waited weeks and weeks before making contact. Amazon’s customer service apologized and offered a refund. Satisfied, though disappointed. I also got an apology letter from the seller.

Wouldn’t you know, several weeks later, the book arrived. Its cover bore a Goodwill price sticker. Too bad I didn’t see it there, so I could’ve purchased it earlier. As much as I’d have liked a free book, I contacted Amazon. They told me to contact the seller. How hard did they really want to make it for me to pay? The seller said Amazon wouldn’t pay them unless I insisted. I did. They still didn’t pay. The whole transaction got ridiculous. So much for the convenience of saving time and money.

How many of us have come to rely on the convenience of an internet economy, the ease of shopping from computers or phones? I personally like hybrid shopping: making my selection by browsing online, then calling customer service to place my actual order. Anybody else do that?

What we like most about getting packages delivered to our doorstep is the idea of receiving what we want or need directly to our home. This was the original plan of none other than Jesus. When you see that long smile painted on a tractor trailer or a delivery truck going through your neighborhood, don’t think Amazon, UPS or FedEx, think Jesus. There was a difference to his plan.

What was ordered, delivered and received was meant to bring people into relationship. It was not a faceless encounter where only one party supplied name billing and shipping address. All parties were fundamentally and forever changed by the encounter. Well-being and satisfaction came in the form of peace, hospitality and healings. That’s how the kingdom of God intentionally came near and was experienced.

When we used to be asked to sign for packages with our neighbor’s names on them, we directly encountered both delivery persons and neighbors. We may have been perfect strangers, but we were equally trusted since we lived nearby.

As convenient as it is to get an email or text message that tells me my package has been delivered along with a picture of it sitting on my porch, but there’s no relationship to people at all.

Jesus knew it was vitally important for the delivery of goods to take place between people in person, if possible. That’s how they share in peace or anything good that benefits all. Sharing involves giving, then waiting to see if what you give is received. It’s not dropping it off on someone’s doorstep or putting it in their mailbox.

If what you bring is received you are to remain. Make a memory; gladly eat and drink whatever is provided. If you feel welcome, stay until it’s time to go. Cure their sick and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” This relationship describes the role of a pastor to a congregation. Hospitality is offered in exchange for care and blessings of other sorts. This church succeeds pretty well at this exchange.

When we are not received, what we offer is returned. It is not an occasion to go away bitter, mumbling, “I can’t believe them. What was I thinking?” We are to discern whether what we offered could be recognized as a gift or whether it was in fact reciprocated. When we pick a package up off the front stoop, we don’t have to thank anyone. We pat ourselves on the back and with self-satisfaction declaring we have obtained what we want and need by our own doing, don’t we?

Verses 16-20 in today’s gospel reading were optional. I included them because listening to what Jesus proposes and offers through those he sends is not only about rejecting Jesus and the one who sent him, but rejecting the very way God intended for us to share and be in relationship. The kingdom of God is as near as each other. In God’s kingdom there is power to overcome evil, authority to face deadly threats, protection from being hurt.

As the seventy were told to rejoice over their names being written in heaven, it was not meant to be celebrated as a personal victory. Neither should our source of joy be a victory celebration over getting what we want delivered on time. People are starving for interaction. The other day I found myself at WalMart inspired by a giant jar of peanut butter. An elderly woman riding an electric cart asked if I knew where the toothpicks were. She proceeded to tell me that she was told they were in the candy aisle and she wanted to make some bacon-wrapped shrimp and…I stopped listening after telling her I didn’t see any.

Spotting a WalMart associate, I asked him if he’d consider helping her find the toothpicks. They too, are so busy these days pulling items off the shelves for online orders, that they have little time to interact with customers. I pointed the woman out and he approached her. Again, I heard the words, “I’d like to make some bacon-wrapped shrimp,” as they headed down toward the pharmacy. Evidently, toothpicks are no longer found in food aisles, being determined more valuable by design for teeth than shrimp.

The world of online shopping has gone crazy. It’s great to have choices and convenience. But we, as consumers, are tearing apart what once held our economy together. Interaction between parts is central to assembly and maintenance. A toothpick creates an hors d’oeuvre by bringing together disparate ingredients like interactions between individuals. Each allows what would normally stand alone to unite, producing a heavenly concoction and/or experience.

Part of my job as your pastor is to try and counterbalance the years your ears have heard passages such as this one read and interpreted with a heavy emphasis on judgment. During Luke’s time, people needed to be reminded of God’s standards. From my experience, people today rarely need reminding that they fail or fail to live up to what’s required. Many who still attend church have already internalized a set of unrealistic standards that are impossible to fulfill.

So beyond all I’ve said thus far, remember this: “Jesus offers peace and healing as signs that the reign of God is near.”

So beyond all I’ve said thus far, remember this: “Jesus offers peace and healing as signs that the reign of God is near.” Our task is to let that peace and healing rest upon us. Everyday, we are invited into temporary and potentially ongoing relationships. Relationships are precious gifts that involve sharing, an exchange of what God has given to each party in the equation.

Who could use a delivery of peace and healing around you? Who needs affirmation that they are seen and heard? Who might be put in your path to bring the kingdom of God near? Will you recognize the opportunity? Will you travel in the direction of unfamiliar territory? Can you sense the urgency of doing so? Let us pray.
Dear Lord, on this eve of celebrating our country’s day of independence, remind us of our dependence on each other. May we use the gifts you’ve given us to bring peace and healing to all places of habitation. May we intentionally share and exchange goods and services knowing that everyone’s freedom, all responsibility and capacity for fun originates in you. In your holy name we pray, Amen.