May 28, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Names Written in Heaven

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Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, I am grateful for Your life, example, instruction, and guidance. I wait on the Spirit’s direction.

Read LUKE 10:1-20

[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. [2] He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. [3] Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. [4] Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. [5] “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ [6] If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. [7] Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. [8] “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. [9] Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ [10] But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, [11] ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ [12] I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. [13] “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [14] But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. [15] And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. [16] “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” [17] The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” [18] He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. [19] I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. [20] However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Reflect

“You must be prepared to be what you proclaim. Serve Christ simply and willingly” (New Zealand Anglican Prayer Book).

As a prophet, Jeremiah was called to convey the mind of God to his people. The 72 appointed by Jesus in today’s reading are similarly called, in that they are being sent by Jesus to places “where he was about to go” (1). At the same time, they themselves represent the Kingdom of God in that, of those who encounter them, it is said: “the Kingdom of God has come near” (9,11). Followers of Jesus, as inheritors of the spirit of prophecy that imbued Jeremiah, still bear this dual function. Like John the Baptist, we point to Jesus; like those who minister to the hungry and thirsty, and the strangers among us, we do so for Jesus.

Like Jeremiah, too, the 72 must stay on message. The declaration of the Kingdom of God occurs whether they are accepted or rejected (9-12). This particular mission seems to have been an extremely positive experience. The euphoric report of the missioners is that “even the demons submit to us in your name” (17). There are times in our own proclamation of the Kingdom of God that are marked by success. For these we praise God.

In his enigmatic response to the 72, however, Jesus reminds them that there are more important things than key performance indicators. The demons submit because of Jesus’ triumph over evil (19), so the joy of their discipleship should rest more fundamentally in their belonging to Jesus (20). As it happens, Jeremiah’s mission created in him more angst than euphoria, but he learned well that belonging to God counted more than “success.” Like the 72 disciples, we have seasons of rejoicing in the Christian life; and like Jeremiah, we have moments of failure and struggle. In either case, the main thing is that our “names are written in heaven” (20).

Apply

Give thanks that we belong to Jesus, in good times and in bad, in success and in failure. Thank him, whatever your situation.

Closing prayer

Lord, I want to live thoughtfully and thankfully. Enable me to learn the grace to be thankful in all situations, even if it’s difficult to be thankful for all situations.

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