Your Mission - Matthew 9 - Proper 6 Year A

Your Mission

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon Matthew 9:35-10:8, Psalm 100

Opening prayer

Happy Pride in Des Moines

“The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” Jesus is making a point here that there is something of a crisis here because people are in need of help. People are being picked on preyed upon. They need leadership -  true shepherds.

There are plenty of people who have long been ignored, excluded, or outright beaten by the systems, even by the ones that are supposed to be the caretakers, (e.g. churches or government.) 

On this weekend of celebration in Des Moines, we are reminded how many, including myself, in that crowd who have been ignored, excluded, beaten and also those who were murdered (sign of cross) for simply being who God made us to be. 

There are many people in the world not just among the queer community, but those of different race, heritage, religions, and occupations that have been marginalized and victims of violence simply because they were born in a different part of the world or neighborhood or with a different gender. 

There are many in the world who are sick and those considered “unclean,” with no one ever going to help them or be with them. We see many on the streets with signs asking for help. We can see people fading away because the nursing home doesn’t have enough help for all of the people there. 

Where are you? What do you do?

There is a vacuum because this is a system that prides itself on care for the self - calling it individualism. “One pulls oneself up by the bootstraps.” For people are just fooling themselves to think there is help being doled out.  

Thus, we must learn to be self sufficient. 

That would be nice if there was a real chance for everyone to rise.  

Yet, we know the system doesn’t work like that. It is purposefully built to praise the go-getters and the entrepreneurs who win no matter the costs to people or creation. It rewards people for getting status, via large contracts, lavish gifts, wealth and capability - and perhaps even more so when they take advantage of people or reduce others. 

This system fires hundreds when a governor is only months away from being out of office. 

That system creates the disadvantaged so that there is someone or some people to prey, to take advantage and cast blame. 

After all, once you reach that status, you can take part in exclusive clubs, golf courses and restaurants. If someone is complaining about your status, they need to shut their mouth and do the work to get here. Then, those who made it will put plenty of obstacles to keep people from rising, like fences, walls, redistricting and propaganda. Then, you don’t have to care what your neighbor is doing or if they are struggling because you made it, you don’t see it and blessings be with you there. 

Then, leadership praise this thinking and try to get us all to, literally, buy into it or be shamed for not.

That is the broken system. That is the system in which Jesus calls the disciples to be ones who take only what they wear and expect no monetary wealth in return for their work. Even there, Jesus wants us to find the lost because even the ones who think they made it have been duped by a broken system.

Jesus sends out the disciples with this specific mission, not one of money or notoriety. Go to the places where people are lost and hurting. Tend to them to whatever ails them, physical, mental, and spiritual. 

There is a way here to be present, to evangelize, to tend, and not be rude. 

Go to a house, and if they don’t want you, simply leave and shake off the dust. Move on to the next place.

You will see evidence of the broken system. It may threaten you, but we are to fear not, for the Spirit is with you for this mission. 

In this mission, have faith that God will provide and you will see God in the welcome you receive. You will find God working and healing. You will see the face of God in people and the Spirit guiding you. 

You do not go condemning or pointing fingers. You do the restoration and caring that has long been forgotten and absent from the system. You bring that peace, forgiveness and love with you and be gracious to all you encounter, for people deserve the best, not just rhetoric and fancy clothes.

There you will find grateful welcomes and desires to be free and to be whole with the community.  By the grace of God, there is the possible. There is hope. There is love.

That doesn’t need status, although a proclamation it is - for the kingdom is near. God is here for you and for me. God is that love, that hope and forgiveness.

That mission isn’t just for the twelve but also for you and me to bring forth into this world because people weren’t just hurting then. They are hurting now and need to see God’s love through us. 

There will always be people who doubt and those who abuse, but our mission is to rise above the noise to bring a shoulder, bring justice and care for our neighbors regardless of where they are on their journeys. We don’t need all of the answers because we don’t.

Be the mission of love, forgiveness, and hope, especially to those who need it.

This mission is leadership of love not shame. 

If you need it, know you can find God near you and with you. Let peace be with you. Be healed for God loves you and welcomes you.

Thanks Be to God, Amen.