This community never disappoints us and never ceases to amaze us in regards to its generosity to the young people. The outpouring of support financially, spiritually, and otherwise has been tremendous, but most of all I want to recognize those who take the time to teach, mentor, work alongside, and befriend the young people in this community. You know who you are. Thank you.

Workin' at the Car Wash

On Saturday the Parish Youth held a fun-d raiser to raise money for the servant trip to PA in July. They worked hard washing cars. There were two other fund raisers going on along Hwy 2 that day, but we won the contest for loudest shirts and coolest wheels.Some more classic wheels getting a wash

Who's that hiding behind the sign?

Taking a break for a photo opportunity to show off their day glow shirts

Pentecost 5 A 2008

It is a wonder to me that anyone would want to hold a public office in this country. It is a wonder to me that this day in age anyone would want to assume a position of leadership, in government, in business, in the church or in the community. It is a wonder to me, after listening to Bill O’Reily and Kieth Oberman’s constant complaining about the leadership of this country that anyone would aspire to work in government. The vitriolic discourse of those on the ends of the political spectrum, both liberal and conservative, reveals a vision of those on the other side as the enemy. The tenor of the political debate is so much less than civil. People speak of their elected officials as idiots, deadbeats, slick, shady, and a whole lot of words I cannot say from the pulpit.

But the problem ranges far beyond the sphere of politics. Often when people rise to a position of leadership, they become an easy target for people’s disenfranchisement. When people take a position of leadership, no matter what their platform, they become targets of ridicule and criticism. Now I am not talking about constructive or dialogical criticism which is done in safety and in which differing opinions are expressed not out of anger or resentment, but out of love and with the intention of correcting. This constructive criticism leaves room for response. Negative criticism consists of bitter words aimed like arrows. Constructive criticism sounds like wisdom.

Constructive criticism offers another possibility, another solution, another way of looking at the problem. Negative criticism offers the only possibility, the only solution, and the only way of seeing the problem. Constructive criticism is empathetic and cares about the other, negative criticism is uncaring and sees the other only in terms of being wrong.

We live in a climate where there is a whole lot of negative criticism. Talk radio and television programs where the goal is to excoriate and condemn the evil doers is just one tiny facet of the lack of civil dialogue in this American life. The saddest part of this trend is that we find neighbors who used to be friends, families who used to be loving, and community members who used to care. Lucky for us most leaders don’t take it personally, and don’t go into their positions to be our friends, to be loved, and to be cared for, but to do what they think is right. But sadly for us many competent leaders avoid leadership positions for fear of becoming easy targets.

In today’s gospel text Jesus summons the twelve disciples. He gives them authority to heal and make whole and sends them out with some pretty specific instructions. Jesus sends out the laborers to work on his behalf, to work among the harvest, bringing in those who are in need of reconciliation and new life with Christ. Jesus sends them out on this their first missionary event because he had compassion on the people—those who were spiritually harassed and helpless. He sent them out offering another possibility, another solution, and another way of looking at their problems. He sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom where the sick are cured, the dead are raised, the lepers are cleansed, and the demonic is cast out.

But it is important to note who some of these people are. It is important that Jesus would employ both Matthew the Tax Collector and Simon the Zealot in the work or proclaiming the Kingdom of God. It is important because these two were as far apart politically, maybe even religiously, as you can get. Matthew had worked as a civil servant of the Roman Empire. He collected taxes for Caesar. Simon the zealot would have seen Matthew as the worst kind of traitor that could have existed. According to Simon, Matthew would have been a stooge doing the dirty work of an oppressive occupying force, worse yet a force that wanted to push its Pagan agenda on the people of God. Simon the Zealot would have wanted to assassinate and murder people like Matthew, and yet here they are the first to be called on as missionaries of Christ’s compassion. Here they are called upon to set aside their differences, empowered with the same gifts, and given the honor of being the first to gather in the people of the promise.

Now, I am sure that Jesus did not moderate their positions. I am sure that Jesus did not speak out of both sides of his mouth. Jesus did not say to Matthew, “Hey Matthew, keep on collecting taxes for Caesar, because that’s ok.” Instead, He said, “Matthew, follow me.” I am sure that Jesus did not say to Simon the Zealot, “Hey Simon, It is ok to be part of a paramilitary group of avenging priests and to commit atrocities in the name of God.” Instead, Jesus said, “Simon, follow me.”

But following Jesus is not a walk in the park. Jesus warns his disciples about the downside of being His follower. Jesus tells the twelve, “See, I am sending you out like sheep in to the midst of wolves…. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their gathering places; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me…. Brother will betray brother to death; and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name.”

It is a wonder that anyone becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is a wonder that anyone can go out on a limb and speak on behalf of something that transcends tax collector or zealot; Republican or Democrat; liberal or conservative. It is a wonder that anyone can go out on a limb and believe in more than just themselves and their ability to effect change. It is a wonder that amidst debates that rage over school consolidation, the war, the economy, the price of gas, that anyone has the guts to stand up and shout, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand, and here’s what that looks like, the sick are cured, the dead are raised, the lepers are cleansed, and the demonic is cast out.”

We have received without payment and now it is time to give without payment, not with the expectation of safety, prosperity, security, growth, but with the assurance that the harvest is plentiful and that compassion is the motivation behind our mission.