Matthew 10:7-16 (NRSV)
Jesus said to the twelve, "As you go, proclaim the good news, `The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
Today, the Episcopal Church commemorates St. Barnabas an early Apostle who worked along Paul in the early Church. Barnabas means "son of encouragement." We need a lot of that encouragement today with the Gulf oil spill and all of the politics around it getting dirtier by the hour. As the news about the primary elections and about the struggle within the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada over the issue of human sexuality continues to bring tension and the threat of further division, we need a lot of encouragement.
All Christians regardless of who they are, are called to the mission of sharing the Good News to a hurting world. In the Gospel for today, Jesus sends out the Disciples as "sheep among wolves." Jesus knows as well as all of us do, the journey of sharing the Gospel is dangerous one and will bring with it many challenges. One thing that is clear as we read this Gospel is that the ministry of the Church has as one of it's basic core characteristics the ministry of radical hospitality and reconciliation. In the Gospel today, Jesus sends the Disciples to go to places where they are welcomed and make peace. If they do not find welcome, if they do not find peace, then they are to leave that place and find their own peace. Jesus equates those places that will not receive new comers with hospitality like Sodom and Gomorrah that was destroyed for their lack of hospitality.
Today re we making peace with all of those who come to the Church seeking to share the Gospel among and with us? Are we too much like Sodom and Gomorrah in the Church and these United States that we have all of this wealth, and knowledge, talents and opportunities, that if immigrants, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, Native Americans and all kinds of people come, we perceive them to want to take everything away from us, and therefore we just are no longer welcoming to the stranger among us? The missionary call of Jesus to the Apostles was to share the message of inclusive and unconditional love with all people. Do we take the opportunity to share the love and mission of Jesus seriously, or is the Church to busy deciding who to welcome and who not to welcome? Is the Church seeking to employ the Apostolic ministry of hospitality and reconciliation? Or are they too busy writing an Anglican Covenant that is designed to keep LGBT people out of Ordained Ministry because there are part of the Communion that are much too uncomfortable with that? Can we welcome people to talk, discuss, disagree to the table, and still love them? Or are we just too angry and too pig headed about inaccurate Biblical interpretations about homosexuality, to come and see a new understanding?
In the Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 53 we read: "All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35). Proper honor must be shown to all, especially to those who share our faith (Gal 6:10) and to pilgrims." Can the Church see in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people those who share the Christian faith? Can LGBT people see in the Church those who share their faith and seek to change hearts and lives about homosexuality, bisexuality and transgendered people? The Church and LGBT people are called to welcome each other as sisters and brothers in the faith, as pilgrims who are sharing the journey to God. How are are LGBT people and the Church welcoming and reconciling with one another as sisters and brothers in the Faith? How are we seeking to join together in prayer, worship and mission as pilgrims on the journey of Christian Discipleship?
On this commemoration of St. Barnabas, may there be encouragement through the ministry of radical hospitality and reconciliation. May we all see past the issues that are creating such tension for the Church, the Anglican Communion and see Jesus calling us to receive one another in faith, hope and love and share with each other the reconciling mercy of God. What role are we being called to take, to be part of the radical ministry of hospitality and reconciliation in today's Church and society?
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 5, Book of Common Prayer, Page 229).
Grant, O God, that we may follow the example of your faithful servant Barnabas, who, seeking not his own renown but the well-being of your Church, gave generously of his life and substance for the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Saint Barnabas, Book of Common Prayer, Page 241).
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.(Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, Page 100).
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