Matthew 9:35-10:8.         The Kingdom of Heaven is near!!               18/6/17

{35)  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. {36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. {37} Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. {38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

{1}  He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. {2} These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; {3} Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; {4} Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. {5} These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. {6} Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. {7} As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' {8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Today's society is struggling; and in many ways has given up on the whole idea that God is here, with us and for us: It has put aside the whole idea that the kingdom of heaven is near. I am sure that we all here struggle with this from time to time. I know that I do. Often we wonder where in the world is God?

What is our answer for the family and friends of a little boy tragically taken in an accident? Where is God in the prayers that we send up time and time again, with nothing seeming to happen? What has the kingdom of God got to do with the here and now, in the midst of all the tragedies and hardships of life? Where is God working, when nothing results from the preaching and administration of the Sacraments week after week, when the Bible says that it is through those means that he will grow the Church?

We all struggle with these and many other thoughts along this line. There is a whole world out there and in here, crowded with worried, helpless and hopeless people; people caught in the web of life, from which there seems to be no escape. So we bury ourselves in our work, pleasure, drink or drugs; anything as long as we don’t have to think about these issues, for it is all too depressing. This is our world today; harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

                     

Interestingly, here in this reading, Jesus is sending us out to them all - with the clear message; the kingdom of God is near. We who ourselves are often struggling and grappling with this idea, are the ones Jesus is sending out to help those around us. We are called to go out to these people and tell them this simple message; the kingdom of God is near. In fact, he says; As you go about your daily life, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' No - more than that - we are called to take the kingdom of heaven to those people; to be the presence of Jesus for them. That is what is being asked of you and me.

So we need to ask, what does it mean that we are to go and preach that the kingdom of heaven near? Does it mean that we go around like some and stand on the street corners or knock on door after door, proclaiming that the end is near and that the prophecies of Revelations are coming true, so you had better watch out or you will get caught out. Telling them that God will judge them for their rottenness; so repent and turn back to God for the Kingdom of heaven is near. Telling them that God expects us all to live better lives and that we are to do this and that if we want to be saved.

Well, yes, there is an element of that in this call for us; but there is much more; and a far more important message involved in these words. It is not judgement and judging that Jesus is primarily concerned with. We are told that as he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. It was pity that motivated Jesus to send his disciples and us out with love for those who are struggling and lost. There is a whole harvest of them out there in the community.

In Jesus day they maybe weren't contemplating suicide; maybe they were not caught in a web of domestic violence or hemmed into an anti-social, self-centred society; but they were still harassed and helpless never-the-less. Today there are crowds of them; we are only too well aware of that, if we read and listen to the news; if we lift our eyes beyond our own self-centred, egotistical little world of our own.

The message that God has here for them all, is, that despite what might seem to the contrary, the kingdom heaven is near – that God is not very far away from each and every one of us. He and his mercy is every present for us; it is just that so often we are not aware of it; and we don't recognise what is plainly obvious. Let me illustrate.

Jim was a small business owner who was struggling under all the pressures of modern business life: high costs and low margins; growing regulatory requirements and constant bureaucratic changes; and much more; all placing a huge stain on his management skills and brain power, causing him to wonder whether all the long hours, hard work and uncertainties were worth it. He became so wrapped up in the difficulties and struggles, that he no longer considered the working of God in his life. He had too many other things to think of and hassle with.

He became more interested in the fact that business down the road was sprouting about how well he was doing, than the fact that his bank manager was not hassling him and his clientele was still faithful. The constant adequate income was no more seen as a blessing from God, but as that which seemed to be a constant struggle to maintain. The growth or lack of it in his business was more and more seen only in terms of the work that he had put in, and the costs that he had to outlay. All the blessings and God's hand in it all was lost.

Along with that, he failed to see how God was upholding him and keeping him going through his family, his friendships and the encouragement of his neighbours. He saw the big salaries of his brothers in the top end of the city, but didn't stop to think that he also had clothes on his back, a roof over his head, three good feeds a day. The kingdom of God was at work all around and through his life, but he couldn't see it – he didn't recognise that it was there.

Jim had long since rationalized to himself and others that it was OK to rip someone off in a business deal if you can get away with it; after all everyone else is doing it. He could slander others around him, because he felt that he might be better accepted by others; he had to fight for his own rights.

However, deep down Jim knew that these sorts of practices were wrong and was what is wrecking the morality of our nation. It bothered him that his relationships with others; and with his wife and children in particular was a long way from what it should be; that the false front of strength and a man who has got it all together, belied the frailty and uncertainty that lay below the surface. He was harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He longed for peace, love and contentment, but could no longer see that it was all there for him.

God was near to him. He was connected to God and the Church through baptism and his attendance at worship, and had heard God's message many times. But now it no longer sank in, for he was distracted by many things. As a result, he no longer considered that the Kingdom of heaven was already drawn near to him.

His distractions meant that he failed to listen to the true significance of Jesus' death and resurrection for his own life. When told again and again of the fact that Jesus has died for him and everything he had done wrong and that in connection with Jesus there was a whole new aspect of life there for him to take hold of and live in light of, it never sunk in. His eternal salvation and life was secure and certain, but he no longer recognised it.

The kingdom of heaven was ever so near to him and so many like him. But the workers to help him see it unfortunately are ever so few. Here though, is where Jesus reminds us that we have our part to play. We are sent out to help those around us to see again that God is not afar off. We are to remind each other by the little things that we say and do, that God is involved and active in every part of our life.

We have received without paying from all the goodness of our Lord. In our baptism we have been freely made children of God - heirs of eternal life; forgiven, healed, restored; given new life. Thereby we know and experience the presence and blessings of God Almighty himself - every day. We certainly have received greatly without deserving it or having to pay for it; so let us give without being paid – without expecting anything in return.

We do have something to say - something to share - with others as we go about our daily lives. We do have an important message for the harassed and helpless - the kingdom of heaven is near. Jesus Christ and his death on the cross alone is what gives life and gives meaning to life. Without him we are nothing. With him and the salvation that he has won for us we have that which enables us to live with and cope with whatever it is that we face in life. Jesus Christ alone is what our world around us desperately needs to hear. Here, remember, that we are the only workers God has to get this message of love and forgiveness to all those around us who need to hear it.

So pray that the Lord will not only send you, but go with you, help you and bless what you do in his name, as you go and proclaim that the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. For to our great God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish