Called and Sent: In Jesus’

Name and Purpose

A Sermon by David Bennett

June 15, 2008

Matthew 9:35-10:8

        When we last gathered – that would be last Sunday for many of us – we commemorated Hunger Awareness Day and heard the story of Matthew’s call, of the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, and of the healing of Jairus’ daughter.

        As Matthew continues, he tells of two other healings as Jesus moves throughout the region.

        We catch up with his ongoing travels and ministry in this week’s reading.  Matthew tells us that Jesus is going about all the cities and villages and teaching in the synagogues.  This is Matthew’s way of letting us know that Jesus is not hanging out with the elite of society, but with the common folks, with those on the margins.

        Listen to all he is doing – he’s curing every disease, he’s curing every sickness, he’s preaching the good news of the kingdom – all because he has compassion on the people who seemed lost without their shepherd (which is Bible speak for “leader”).  Jesus is their leader offering them wholeness and new life and the good news of God’s realm.

        Jesus has been a very busy guy.  He recognizes that the disciples are ready to be sent out on their own in his name to offer his word of life and hope.

        So he gathers his twelve disciples around and gives them authority over unclean spirits, the ability to cure every disease and every sickness. 

Imagine their surprise.  This teacher, this healer, this preacher they have been following is looking them in the eye and conferring upon them the authority to do what they have seen him doing.  Peter must have looked skeptically at John.  Bartholomew quickly glanced over his shoulder to see if Jesus was really talking about some one in the crowd gathered around the edges.  Matthew the tax collector couldn’t believe Jesus could mean him.   The rest stared down at their dusty sandals trying to grasp all that was being said.

They all must have thought, “Me, us, we’re not ready for this assignment.  There’s so much more we need to learn.  We haven’t done this before.  We’re not good enough.”

But, if we listen carefully, we will hear the twelve disciples become the twelve apostles – the only time Matthew refers to the twelve as “apostles”. 

Apostles mean “those who are sent.”  The twelve are sent to offer their ministry of healing and hope in Jesus’ name and with his purpose.

Jesus seems to be saying to his twelve closest friends, “You don’t need schooling. You don’t need some special, magical gift.  You don’t need to wait until you feel worthy, until you are perfect (it’s not going to happen, anyway).  I give you the authority to go, to offer life and hope; to heal and cure.  Now go…in my name!”

Go, they do.  Apostles – “those who are sent” – have been going to this very day.   Jesus’ compassion became the apostles’ compassion, becomes our compassion.  In Jesus’ name we are called in our day and time and sent into our community, into our world offering our gifts of healing and life because, like Jesus and the apostles before us, we are filled with compassion for all God’s people, for all God’s creation.

We each offer these gifts in our own way.  This morning we are receiving the gift of the ministry of music offered by the Campero family.  Tomorrow some of will venture down to the Father McCoy Dining Room at St. Mary’s to offer meals to the hungry.  Others share their gifts at the Emergency Food Bank.  Others volunteer at St. Joseph and Dameron Hospitals .  Some teach.  Some knit shawls.  Some sing.  Still others prepare food for receptions.  Some volunteer to make the lights and microphones work.   Some quietly, without fanfare, pray for their pastor and others – offering prayers of support and healing.  Each of us offers our gifts of life in the way Jesus has called us and sent us out in his name.

Jesus calls us together; names us.  He then sends us in his name to share the good news of the new realm of God – it is in this realm, that life at its most abundant is found; that healing of ills of every kind is offered and received; that Jesus’ compassion is received and offered.

Looking around at the crowd to see if we are worthy is not necessary.  Looking over our shoulder for the more qualified is not necessary.  Jesus sees us.  Jesus calls us.  Jesus sends us – in his name and with his authority – to heal and to cure and to offer life.  Are we willing to go?