+ Pentecost 7 – July 3rd, 2016 +
Redeemer
Lutheran, HB
Series C:
Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:1-10; Luke 10:1-20
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
In the 1930’s “peace in our time” was the popular cliché. The
1960’s the cry was, “peace and love”. And the 1980’s made famous the phrase, “peace
through strength”. What does today’s slogan of peace sound like? Peace and
tolerance. Coexist. Or, as the great hymn writer, Axel Rose once sang, “Peace sells, but who’s buyin’?”
Even though it’s dimly lit and covered with more and more dirt
every day, all our human attempts at peace are a window. As St. Augustine once
said, “Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until we find our rest in Thee.” We
want peace. We see a world, our communities, families and friends, and
ourselves in need of peace. And yet we live in a restless world where peace is
quickly becoming a word without meaning, a feeling without substance, and a
quest without a goal. The kind of peace we seek in this life is illusive and often
an illusion; we’re incapable of finding the very peace we need.
It’s into this kind of world that Jesus sends the 72
disciples. Not a utopia. But a broken, fallen world. A world that is the
opposite of the Shalom, peace, wholeness, everything fulfilled and at rest that
it was in Genesis.
Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst
of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals,
and greet
no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this
house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.
But if not, it will return to you
Jesus gives the 72 his
message: proclaim peace. They are ambassadors of the Prince of Peace. “Peace be
with this house. Peace be with you”. This is no pithy greeting card message, or
a friendly “howdy ho, neighboroony”. No. Jesus’ peace is a blessing and promise
all in one.
This is the peace that comes
only in the Crucified and Risen Jesus. To the world, the cross is foolishness,
a scandal and a disgrace. But for us it is the power of God for our salvation. Jesus’
peace for you is found in his pierced hands and side; his kingdom comes for you
by his crown of thorns. His cross is true love for you, true peace. Jesus gives
you peace through weakness, by laying down his life for us.
This is the peace the world cannot give, a
peace that surpasses our understanding. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid
(John 14:27)
The Hebrew word is Shalom. Not a temporary peace, but a restoration of wholeness. With Jesus’ peace comes healing in
body and mind. It begins now…already in Christ you are a new creation. And yet
it is still to come. Jesus will make all things new. There will be everlasting
peace.
Do we sit idle then and wait? No. Jesus sent
the 72 and instructed them to “Heal the sick
and say to them ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
Jesus calls us to be ambassadors of His
peace: We don’t build the kingdom of God. Like the 72, we’re called to proclaim
it. There’s a big difference. Sometimes we get the impression that the kingdom
of God up to us to build. But that wasn’t the case for the 72, and neither is
it for us. The kingdom of God is built not on our efforts but on God’s efforts,
not on our works, but Christ’s works. Not with our blood, sweat, and tears but
with Jesus’ blood, sweat, and tears. Jesus does the work; we proclaim: “it is
finished”.
And so for all the times we’ve shaken the
dust off our feet at Jesus, how beautiful are the feet of him who bears good
news for us on the mountain of crucifixion. For all the times we’ve rejected
his peace for our own private rebellion, Jesus cancels our record of debt by
nailing it to the tree, reconciling us with the Father. For all the times we’ve
desired for my kingdom to come, and my will to be done, in Jesus speaks: “Peace
be with you”. Rejoice; your names are written in heaven.
The same Jesus who’s birth was announced by the angels - “Glory
to God in
the highest, and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased!”
– is the same Jesus who was born to be our Prince of Peace.
The same Jesus who entered
Jerusalem amidst the shouts of - “Blessed is the King
who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” – is the same Jesus who reconciled the world to the Father,
not counting our trespasses against us.
The same Jesus who spoke “peace be with you” to his disciples
after his resurrection, is the same Jesus who delivers his peace to you today. For in Jesus the Kingdom of God has come
near…and comes near to you still.
This is no abstract peace, but a
real, tangible, flesh and blood peace. Jesus gives us peace in his body and
blood in ordinary bread and wine. Jesus gives us peace in his Word that gives
true Shalom and rest. Jesus gives us peace for all time in your Baptism.
This is what we receive and proclaim: peace through Jesus’
cross. Peace by his blood, shed for you. Peace in his wounds. Peace in his
resurrection.
Peace be to this house.
Peace be with you.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
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