Fr Mike's Message - 7/3/22

The Gospel: ​Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Prayer: ​Lord, you have promised that when two or three gather in your name you will be present with them. We depend on that promise today and pray that you will move among us. Lord, we pray that have you inspired Mike's preparation, that you will enliven his presentation and that you will empower our application.  Amen

The Message: So, I have a general question of those of you who are parents in the gathering this morning. Do you have any favorite phrases that your children used when they were growing up?

I have several, but I have to admit that one of my favorites has to be: "I can do it myself!" I especially love the tone that they would use when they would say this. It was a declaration! "Stand back I am I in charge here!" "I can do it myself."

We knew that we had reached a significant milestone in our children's development when we began to hear that phrase. Up until that time, if we were to offer to help or to suggest that we could help them do something, they would happily allow us to step in and accomplish whatever the task was. But at a certain point they went through a metamorphosis and all of a sudden it was seriously important for them to be able to declare "I can do it myself."

Psychologists have identified that as human beings we go through a series of growth and developmental periods. One of the most significant has been identified as the series of steps defined as "dependence, independence and interdependence." Each of these stages of development are essential for us in our becoming well rounded and well developed human beings.

Each of us grows, learns and develops at different rates but we each should pass through each one of these growth periods. We all start out dependent. We all need to be cared for, guided and provided for when we are infants. Then we grow and develop and we discover that we are actually able to take on more and more tasks for ourselves. We begin to declare our independence and grow towards being our individual selves.

For most people there then comes a period when they realize that it is a healthy and fulfilling experience to allow other people into their lives and they grow to be interdependent. There is a sense of independence for each person, but they realize they are more fulfilled and satisfied when there are other people they interact with. Other people contribute to their lives and they contribute to the lives of others. It is important to note that this is how communities are built, how marriages are developed and how society is strongest. Healthy, acknowledged interdependence fosters relationships and encourages interactions beyond the goals and ambitions of any one individual.

Now this can be challenging because we need to learn how to develop healthy and sustainable relationships. There is a good deal of learning for each person as they identify areas within themselves and others that challenge this kind of healthy interdependence. There will be disappointments along the way as members of communities interact with each other. People will let us down and we will let other people down. But we should be committed to growing into being the most fully interdependent people as we can be.

Now, if someone gets "stuck" in one of these stages there will be a lack of skill and society or community interaction which will become obvious very quickly.

In our Old Testament reading this morning we see an example of someone who wants to declare their independence. They don't want to say that there is anything that they can learn from anyone else.

Naaman is in need of healing, his condition is serious, possibly life threatening. But he is described in the reading this way: "Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master." Obviously Naaman is someone who has every reason to be proud of who and what he is. He is recognized as someone with great skill and most probably ambition. He has become used to being treated with deference from those he meets.

Elisha does not respond as Naaman expected him to. Elisha sends a messenger with his instructions, he doesn't even come and meet Naaman himself, his instructions are simple and straight forward. Go wash in the Jordan seven times.

Naaman responds like I remember my kids sometimes would. "I can do it myself." You can almost hear his disgruntled Humph!

Naaman responds in both his actions and his words to dismiss Elisha directions.

"But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage."

Naaman expresses his independence. He is not willing to listen, and is insulted by Elisha's response.

It is only because of his servants, and their insistence that Naaman try what has been suggested that Naaman is healed. Now there is community at work!

In fact it is only because of the servant girl - a kidnapped and captive slave in his household - that Naaman even has this opportunity. All these other people are working and risking on Naaman's behalf. They are in fact interceding for Naaman and for his healing. This is a great example of interdependence being exercised in a community. Naaman is the recipient of all kinds of support and  care from the community around him. He is the one who benefits from everyone else seeking the best possible result for him. It is only when he is willing to put aside his pride and his independence that he reaps the benefit of the care and concern of those around him.

This is a wonderful illustration of what we heard this morning the reading from Galatians. I am not going to read the whole passage again, but here are two selections that hit home in this context:

"My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith."
Then again in the Gospel from Luke we hear about Jesus selecting and sending out the 70 to begin the mission of the promulgation of the Gospel. He sends them out with instructions for how they are to approach the communities that they come across in their journeys. He warns them of the dangers they will face.

When they return and report on their mission impact he encourages them that they have done well, but he also admonishes them to keep their hearts right in the process.

"Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

"See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Here we hear Jesus defining that the work of the Gospel is a work that depends on interdependence. He is interested in those that he sends building relationships and developing communities. This is not about how those who go set up scorecards where they record their successes. This is about working towards seeing the Kingdom of God coming close to those people who the people on mission interact with.

On this Independence Day weekend as we rightly celebrate the founding and the Independence of this nation may we never forget our care and concern we have for those in our world who do not have the relationship we do with you.

May we recognize our interdependence and our responsibility to share the Gospel with those who do not know you.

I would like to close this morning with the Collect For the Mission of the Church from page 257 of the Book of Common Prayer

"O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever."  Amen.