Pentecost+4/Proper 9C (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20)

Today’s gospel lesson shows Jesus’ strategy of evangelism. There are a couple of things that stand out for me. (I would also like you to think about what stands out for you and share if you can in our Sunday worship.) Let me break down his tactic. ​

1. The main objective of evangelism: Proclaim the gospel, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

2. Background information of this evangelism initiative: Jesus cannot physically go to all the places on his own. He selects seventy disciples and sends them in pairs. We know it’s easier to do things together than alone. 

3. Materials to prepare: Nothing. No purse, no bag, and no sandals, meaning all you need is your presence of the gospel. No talk at all on the way as if there’s no time and this evangelism should be done with utmost urgency. 

4. Peaceful approach: Share peace, “Peace to this house!” Notice it’s not about “Fear everyone, for God’s judgment day is coming.” It’s the peace of Christ that one approaches others. No harmful intentions. Always goodwill, compassion, and empathic joy. 

5. Actions to two different responses when received or rejected by people

• Yes: If this particular family welcomes you, plant yourself there. Think of yourself as a dandelion. Once its seed lands and the earth receives it, it remains deeply rooted, blossoms, and spreads its seeds. Eat whatever the family gives you. Share their meal together. Curing the sick in our times may be interpreted as our work of healing and peace either by praying for them, empathically listening to them, or meditating with them. The most important work, then, is to help them awaken the kingdom of God in their inner lives. 
• No: If you’re rejected, don’t take it personally. Don’t look back. Move on. Don’t force them or retaliate. Note Jesus’ advice on what to do about this: “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you.” This saying sounds harsh, yet this is not a curse or an ill-will. I would see this more as his way to support his friends who might be discouraged by rejection since the message of the gospel is still uttered: “Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” The same gospel message that is shared with those who say yes is also shared with those who decline. Then, Jesus goes even further and empowers them by identifying himself with his disciples who might’ve felt like a failure: “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” Chin up and carry on. Jesus might sound like, “The dust of their town recognizes the peace that comes from the kingdom of God through our presence but this is your dust to take care of, not ours. Just as I can’t breathe for you, you should discover and cultivate the kingdom of God in yourself.”

6. Warning: Don’t be conceited and prideful in case you are able to be well-received by people and perform all the miracles. Jesus doesn’t deny all the wonderful work of healing his disciples have done but what matters most is for them to continue to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. This means to rejoice that the kingdom of God has found them. Never cease to cultivate the kingdom of God in you. 

Having reflection on Jesus’ tactic of evangelism, what are your thoughts? Are you able to do this or is this something that someone else should do? If we focus on performing miracles such as curing the sick and casting out demons, we may not be so interested in joining this campaign of Jesus’ movement and this task seems impossible. But what about your presence of the inner peace that is arising from your discovery of God’s kingdom in the very depth of your being? What if that presence is the only requirement for those who are spiritually, physically, and mentally suffering? Our presence can be a channel to enkindle God’s peace that is already residing in them. Even if they don’t acknowledge this, we wish them that God’s inner kingdom finds them at some point in their lives. While we can share our presence of God’s peace with them, it’s their sacred duty to invigorate the inner kingdom of God in themselves. 

My friends in Christ, I hope to see what Jesus saw: “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” That Satan falling from heaven is the disappearance of avarice, aversion, fear, anxiety, and despair in people’s hearts, in our world. We’re in this ministry of evangelism together. We can make a difference in our world of violence as we ourselves persistently contemplate the inner kingdom of God in Christ. We have Jesus’ strategy. Will you join him?