Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Collect of 15th Sunday

Lectionary: 104

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their belts.... 

So they went off and preached repentance. 

The Gospels have been widely interpreted throughout the centuries by the evolving societies that read them. The worst readings were probably those of the deists who believed God should not do miraculous things to upset their scientific theories. They might have said, "He made the world, now let him leave it alone!" Eventually, deists became atheists who dismiss the very idea of God, and all allegiance to reading the Bible.

Nineteenth century theologians debated whether Jesus's religion should maintain the status quo or upset it. Was he a lawgiver or a rebel? What is the Kingdom of God and when did it, does it, or will it begin? 

Theologians today read the gospels as marching orders. They don't explain miracles because there are no "miracles" in the Bible. If a miracle is an incident which scientists cannot explain, the Divine Authors had never heard of such nonsense. They assumed God can do what he wants in God's world; and God's wonderful works are overwhelming displays of Mercy and Justice. 

Nor does the Bible attempt to explain how governments and societies should operate. If lawyers defend the status quo from the Bible while anarchists justify their destruction by the Bible, neither party is reading God's intent. 

The Gospels send Jesus's disciples to suffering peoples to bring hope, healing, comfort, and guidance. The Good News is more than words can convey. The Church should demonstrate in a million ways the fidelity of God. 

I think of Easter as that day when the Jesus Christ, the Anointed Son of God -- following his arrest, trial, torture, and barbaric execution -- quietly replied, "I am still here!" 

He does not go away and, because he sent us, neither do we. Our presence is generosity, compassion, understanding, and sympathy. Our presence is committed, willing, and receptive. 

It is also divine as we preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins, which makes it unpalatable to some unfortunate people. But we recognize them as our brothers and sisters even when they regard us as enemies. We say, "If you will not pray for us, we will nonetheless pray for you. You are dear to us."

We were sent here and we will remain so long as the Spirit commands us to remain. 

We're still here.