Rejoice in God's nearness

I want to go back for an evening and look at one of last week's lectionary readings. The sermon last Sunday was based on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. It was a great sermon, and it brought to mind several thoughts -- insights that I hadn't had before. I mentioned one in my post on Sunday, but there were others.

• Suzanne mentioned that there were 70 nations in the world at the time. I like this -- symbolically saying that we should go out to all the world.
• He sent them in pairs. She explained that it took two witnesses to testify to something in that time. I like that they were sent out in pairs, and not alone. God knows that there are things we need help to do -- that we need someone else to enable us to accomplish his work.
• I read a post the other day (Enter the Rainbow) which discussed this scripture. The author reminded us that these disciples were not going out to spread the word of a risen savior (as we do today). They were sent out to bring peace, and to say that God is near. That's an important message, even today.
• At the end, they all come back, amazed at what happened while they were traveling -- at the power God had given them. Don't you get the feeling that they are a little TOO proud of what THEY have done? Aren't we like that sometimes? The Message version of this scripture says, "Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing."

He asks them to tell whoever they come to that "the kingdom of God is near." Isn't that also what he tells them at the end -- so that they will see it, too? Rejoice in what God does for you! The kingdom of God is near to YOU, too.

Image: Yep. Beach. Again.