Powerful, Liberating Love

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Today's readings: 2 Cor. 12:2-10; Psalm 33; Mark 6:1-13

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I had never before heard that song we sang for our gathering this morning, but I feel like it truly embodies the theology of the cross - entering into the hard stuff of this life, illuminating the darkest of places - not because we are necessarily unafraid, but we are able to enter in even when we are afraid, because we know God goes with us and in fact has already gone ahead of us and conquered the forces that deal in death. So, I am particularly struck by that last verse: ‘Let us enter in to the heart of a world that is broken, to the start of a hope we can share. Let us enter into the part where we call one another sister and brother. Let us enter in.’

It’s a sweet sweet platitude to declare, but a bitter pill to enact. Entering into the broken world is one of the toughest jobs one can undertake. Many have given up, many have retreated into isolation or taken up an ‘I only care for me and my own’ mentality. Entering into the brokenness often means putting our own life on the line, but instead of being suited with armor and bearing guns, Christ sends us out armed only with vulnerability, compassion, empathy, interdependence, and love. The world is quick to remind us just how far that will get us… yet we know it’s our only hope.. and we dream it is a hope we can all someday share.

In fact, we heard this morning how power is made perfect in weakness. The theology of the cross is not one of asserting dominance and wielding weapons.. at least not on God’s part; only on the part of the Romans. The theology of the cross is that those things that seem weak: vulnerability, compassion, empathy, interdependence, love – those are the weapons which will not only win the ‘war,’ but truly transform the world. God says, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ This is a reminder not to lean on anything – not nationalism, not military might, not self-reliance – but God alone. We witness to our faith in God and to who God is when we lean solely on the One who has already fought the war and won.

All of these seemingly weak weapons are engaged in relationship. Christ engages with the world by way of relationship – whether that be healing, serving, teaching, sharing meals… Jesus comes alongside humanity, engages people in relationship and calls us to do the same. As we heard in the gospel text, Jesus sends out the disciples two by two – not alone, but together – and sends them in complete dependence on other people. He asks them to leave their family, friends, and the comforts of home and stability. He sends them out with no food, money, extra clothes – no travel bags allowed! They are completely reliant on relationship and on the hospitality of strangers. To some that might even sound scarier than being sent off into war!

This is vulnerability and interdependence at its finest! And Jesus is up front with them that there will be people who will not accept them or their ministry. There might be households or communities that will send them away, leaving them unsure of where they might sleep or find their next meal. I feel burnt out already just thinking about it!! Yet Jesus tells them, when this happens, don’t take it personally and don’t give up! Dust off your feet and keep going. Keep going!

There are a lot of things that keep us chained where we are and cut off from relationship and God’s call. This independence day I’d like us to take a minute to reflect on this question: What is it that you need to be freed from in order to live your life in God?... Now let me clarify: You ARE created in the image of God, the fire of the Spirit has been lit aflame in your heart, you have been claimed, saved, called and sent to live freely into the abundant life God intended for all of creation… What chains do you need freed from in order to live that kingdom reality today?

I’m not going to answer that question for you, as I truly want you to think and reflect on your own answers; I believe they will be different for all of us. But whether you write out that list or make a mental one, I want your list to end with this truth: In Christ’s death and resurrection, you have been freed from sin, evil, and all death dealing forces of this life. With that, you have been freed from everything that wrote on your list that holds you bound. God has freed us from these things so that we can be freed up FOR love and service to neighbor. (Freed from, freed for)

Today I pray you celebrate and practice your freedom that is bigger than this nation or any nation. Celebrate the freedom you have in Christ, praise God for the gift of liberation, and may your response be a life lived to God. Practice vulnerability, compassion, empathy, interdependence, and love and show the world what true power looks like. Enter INTO the heart of a world that is broken; share with others the hope we have in Christ. Our dream of abundant life for ALL is not naivety; the kingdom of God IS at hand! Let us go forth and proclaim the news two by two; even if we have to do so afraid.. for God’s grace is sufficient for you and God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Thanks be to God!