Luke 10:1-11; 16-20
Peace to you. I think this may be the hardest part of kingdom work because it really asks us to leave all our ideas of power behind. You don't ask who these people are, you don't ask if they align with Rome, you don't ask what is there standing in the community. Peace, and if your peace comes back to you stay.
What if we did church this way? We do have a spot where we give peace to one another, but do we really mean it. Partly it is to forgive one another so we can partake of communion, and commune together. There should be no barrier between us. We forgive all. We give peace to all. But we are supposed to carry this our into the world.
As we learn how we are equipped by the Spirit to do this. We can't do it on our own, we like to blame, hold grudges, label others. Here we are sent to bring peace because the kingdom of God has come near. What is this kingdom, well many scholars rewrite this as kin-dom. Kin, it's like the blessing we use right now, "wash the feet in the person of his kin" taking an intimate act and giving the stranger, the believer peace.
I love to read the Inspector Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George. They have great characters, Lynley and Havers partner together to solve each crime. Yet sometimes you would think Havers would be dropped by Lynley. She goes her own way, sometimes breaking all the rules and even going farther than Lynley would. Still he and she somehow maintain a working relationship in spite of it all. He gives his peace, of a sorts, even when she is flying way out there and she's not an easy person to give sway to. She's untidy, smokes a bunch, and never gives a second thought to breaking any of the rules in being a cop. She gets regulated to traffic duty because of her misdeeds and Lynley still consults her.
Peace, how do we give this peace, the peace which the world doesn't give? It is hard, it's a daily practice. This is why our Presiding Bishop has given us the way of love practice. It is intention we need to set up and practice and it brings us always to the harder questions. How have I given peace today, how have I not given peace today? Is there someone I need to go and ask forgiveness from? This is a basic part of discipleship. It should form our lives, our churches, our communities.
Do we give peace or share peace with the neighbors of our church? What would that look like? What forms might this take? This week I went and visited Spread Hope Now in Sikeston, Missouri one of the main goals is to partner and bring in new churches. The ministry is to all those on the margins. They have a warming center in the winter and put up 14 people during the coldest nights, making crock pot meals to share and offering blankets, a tub to keep things in, a shower, games and prayer. They offer prayer throughout the year. They have a storehouse of home furnishings in order to help those who can't afford something. They have little money, but somehow God provides. Peace to the neighborhood. It's s beacon of hope and trust, bringing together all races, all churches, all people under one roof. This is a good example of what is peace building.
Denominational factions don't have a place here. Homeless or barely making it, or making it well doesn't have a place here. Praying with one another for those lost and those who have lost hope. Giving because of the abundance with which God provides. It is sent, it is sending, and it is building kin-dom, not for itself, for all. When we start doing this we start seeing this joy the disciples come back with. Yes, even we can cast out the demons. The demons of despair, of being lost, of being divided we can become beloved community.
This is what we are sent for. To build this kin-dom of peace. To participate in growing it. To remember why we are sent. Peace be with you.
Peace to you. I think this may be the hardest part of kingdom work because it really asks us to leave all our ideas of power behind. You don't ask who these people are, you don't ask if they align with Rome, you don't ask what is there standing in the community. Peace, and if your peace comes back to you stay.
What if we did church this way? We do have a spot where we give peace to one another, but do we really mean it. Partly it is to forgive one another so we can partake of communion, and commune together. There should be no barrier between us. We forgive all. We give peace to all. But we are supposed to carry this our into the world.
As we learn how we are equipped by the Spirit to do this. We can't do it on our own, we like to blame, hold grudges, label others. Here we are sent to bring peace because the kingdom of God has come near. What is this kingdom, well many scholars rewrite this as kin-dom. Kin, it's like the blessing we use right now, "wash the feet in the person of his kin" taking an intimate act and giving the stranger, the believer peace.
I love to read the Inspector Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George. They have great characters, Lynley and Havers partner together to solve each crime. Yet sometimes you would think Havers would be dropped by Lynley. She goes her own way, sometimes breaking all the rules and even going farther than Lynley would. Still he and she somehow maintain a working relationship in spite of it all. He gives his peace, of a sorts, even when she is flying way out there and she's not an easy person to give sway to. She's untidy, smokes a bunch, and never gives a second thought to breaking any of the rules in being a cop. She gets regulated to traffic duty because of her misdeeds and Lynley still consults her.
Peace, how do we give this peace, the peace which the world doesn't give? It is hard, it's a daily practice. This is why our Presiding Bishop has given us the way of love practice. It is intention we need to set up and practice and it brings us always to the harder questions. How have I given peace today, how have I not given peace today? Is there someone I need to go and ask forgiveness from? This is a basic part of discipleship. It should form our lives, our churches, our communities.
Do we give peace or share peace with the neighbors of our church? What would that look like? What forms might this take? This week I went and visited Spread Hope Now in Sikeston, Missouri one of the main goals is to partner and bring in new churches. The ministry is to all those on the margins. They have a warming center in the winter and put up 14 people during the coldest nights, making crock pot meals to share and offering blankets, a tub to keep things in, a shower, games and prayer. They offer prayer throughout the year. They have a storehouse of home furnishings in order to help those who can't afford something. They have little money, but somehow God provides. Peace to the neighborhood. It's s beacon of hope and trust, bringing together all races, all churches, all people under one roof. This is a good example of what is peace building.
Denominational factions don't have a place here. Homeless or barely making it, or making it well doesn't have a place here. Praying with one another for those lost and those who have lost hope. Giving because of the abundance with which God provides. It is sent, it is sending, and it is building kin-dom, not for itself, for all. When we start doing this we start seeing this joy the disciples come back with. Yes, even we can cast out the demons. The demons of despair, of being lost, of being divided we can become beloved community.
This is what we are sent for. To build this kin-dom of peace. To participate in growing it. To remember why we are sent. Peace be with you.
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