Huddle Up

• Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

on Matthew 10:34-11:1, Jesus sent the Twelve to teach and preach and heal, to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is near... Coach Jesus's “huddle up” speech comes to an end.

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• Matthew 10:34-11:1, in which Jesus' warning slash encouragement speech concludes.

• Honestly I'm a little glad to come to end of Chap10, ready for Chap11. We've had four weeks of Jesus' speech to disciples,
and the tension has been ratcheting up.

(btw, it takes about six minutes to read the chapter, & it IS one speech...)

It starts out nice, go and proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven is near,
I give you authority to drive out evil spirits and heal the sick.

But oh: travel light. And folks may not welcome you. 

I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves?

You'll be handed over to the government and flogged? 

Hated and persecuted and killed?

And now disciples must choose between God and family, 

and pick up a cross?

This chapter makes a person squirm a bit.

Because Jesus calls for a pretty high level of commitment.

Why? Because the level of pain in the world requires a pretty high level of commitment.
 

Because the powers of God >> powers of darkness.

• The world can be inhospitable.

Shooting of 18-yo Michael Brown last Sat outside St. Louis. Young man not even the latest in line of not a handful, not dozens, but hundreds of black men slain by white cops in the last decade. There are peaceful protestors as well as rioters and looters. Not much peace. Not much understanding. World can be inhospitable.

Death by suicide of Robin Williams. Because depression, addiction, disease (Parkinsons).

Depression is a real medical condition, needs treated like a medical condition just like diabetes or high blood pressure need treated. 

Ongoing trouble in Middle East. Islamic group ISIS taken control of dam that provides power and water for 7 million inhabitants of Baghdad, US seeking to remove from power, reports of ISIS killing dozens or more, plus thousands of refugees without access to adequate necessities.

Drug abuse addiction trafficking in our own Huntington / tristate area.

• The world can be inhospitable but God is stronger,
and people need to know that the KOH is near, is here,
that there is hope, there is relief, there is renewal, there is justice
that though there be grave darkness in the world 

the darkness does not overcome.

Jesus quotes Micah 7:6, which describes the sad state of affairs in Israel...
Look on to verse 8: 

Though I have fallen, I will rise. 

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 

He will bring me out into the light; 

I will see his righteousness.

• This is the speech of encouragment that Coach Jesus gives.

But he's not just coach. He's team Captain. 

What's he do at the end of the speech?

11:1 When Jesus finished teaching his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

He's on the field. So let's go.

• Hymn 396 O Jesus I Have Promised