The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, July 4th: Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20)

MISSIONARY WORK STILL NEEDED AMONG THE WOLVES

(Click here for Podcast)

In the tenth chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus sent seventy-two of his followers out on an important mission. They were to go into all the towns and places that Jesus intended to visit, and they were to proclaim, “The kingdom of God is at hand.” Their task was to get the people ready for Jesus’ imminent appearance.

There are a lot of parallels between the mission of these seventy-two believers and the mission of present-day Christians.

We, too, are called by the Lord to go out and proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. Many Christians are aware of the basic Gospel message: repent and believe that Christ died for our sins and that His Resurrection conquered death and gives eternal life.

However, we sometimes forget that a crucial part of the Gospel message is that time is running short. The opportunity for people to put their faith in Jesus will not last forever. For some, the chance will end abruptly with the crash of a car or the burst of a blood vessel. For everyone else, the offer will expire soon enough, whether in a nursing home, a hospice, or, if the secular elite get their way, the local Kevorkian Klinic & Krematorium (advertising slogan: “Drop Grandma off at the front door, pick up her ashes an hour later at the back door!”). 

Jesus had a strong sense of urgency about the mission. He did not allow his followers to bring a traveling bag or to greet people along the way. They were to travel light and work fast. All Christians today should have that same sense of urgency when spreading the Gospel.

Jesus also told the seventy-two, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” No statement is more true regarding our modern culture.

There are literally millions of people, in just this country alone, who have never heard the real Gospel. They think religion is all about people pulling themselves up to God’s level via solemn rituals, rather than what it really is: God reaching down to rescue us. Either that, or they are so immersed in secular thinking that all thoughts of God and spirituality have been banished from their minds.

Trust me on this one. I know from experience, it is possible to be so convinced God is irrelevant that the Gospel message goes in one ear and out the other. Persistence is key. A person can hear the message umpteen times, but on the umpteenth time plus one, a light suddenly goes on and it makes sense.

Another point Jesus made in this passage: “I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” Again, the similarities to our modern culture are striking. Who would’ve thought that judges could distort the First Amendment’s original intent—freedom OF religion—into the warped idea of freedom FROM religion?

What we’ve recently experienced here in Connecticut is mind-boggling. A federal judged ruled in a lawsuit (filed by the ACLU, what a surprise) that a high school cannot hold its graduation ceremony in a large, air-conditioned church, even though there will be no prayer, no sermon, and any religious images will be covered. The facility was selected solely because of it’s 3,000 theater-like seats, great sound system, and low rental fee. But the judge reasoned if people even enter the building, they will be coerced into accepting the particular church’s religious beliefs. I’ve got news for the judge: I was dragged to Mass every week for 18 years, plus about 10 years of catechism classes, and I went off to college as a confirmed atheist. The idea that being inside a church automatically causes someone to be a Christian makes about as much sense as the idea that being inside a garage automatically causes someone to be a Buick.

Fifty years ago, who would’ve thought the two institutions that bring peace and stability to society—the family and the church—would be under such attack today? Who would’ve thought the Ten Commandments and prayer would be outlawed from public buildings, while abortion, immoral behavior, and a contempt for Western civilization would be enthusiastically promoted?

Who would’ve thought that respected educators would teach children that they should ignore their parent’s values and instead follow their own “feelings” in forming a personal definition of right and wrong? (Gee, that’s worked out well. Nowadays, it’s hard to keep track of the number of kids who “feel” like they want to skip school; “feel” like they want to rape a classmate; “feel” like they want to steal something or punch someone. Following one’s feelings is a great idea—if you’re a big fan of societal chaos.)

Sad as it is, that’s the situation today. People who try to promote Christian values and beliefs are like lambs among wolves.

Jesus gave his followers the power to conquer evil. He told them, “I have given you the power to tread upon…the full force of the enemy.” When the seventy-two returned from their mission, they exclaimed to Jesus, “Even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”

Modern-day Christians often forget that Christ has given us this same power through the Holy Spirit. We must remember that the forces of evil shudder at the sound of the Lord’s name. We can command evil influences to flee when we invoke the name of Jesus. I’ve seen it happen; it really works.

Finally, Jesus reminded his faithful followers of the true purpose of their mission. He said, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the [evil] spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

We don’t spread the Gospel for the fun of it. We don’t talk about Jesus just to have something to say. We don’t use his name in casting out temptation and evil because it’s cool to watch someone on the verge of sin suddenly stop. We don’t promote Christianity simply because we enjoy living in a sane and civilized society.

We obey Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel so people can have their names inscribed in the book of life in Heaven. We do this for two simple reasons: Hell is awful, and forever is a long time.

©2010