Rough Road Mapped Out!

 
FOR THE Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, we hear again from the Gospel According to Matthew. The text of this gospel message is a continuation of the sending of our Lord’s disciples for their first evangelical mission. That mission was confined to the people in the geographic areas of Israel.

 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be-elzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 
“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.  (Matthew 10:24–39) 

As comparative investigation reveals to us, there is a shorter parallel of this text found in the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:40). Also, the writer of the Gospel According to Saint John used some of the text or its source. Because of the agreements in the gospel records the passages are thought to be from the lost “Q” (quelle) document, but even as recognized as such, a few variants are recognized in some verses.

Our section for today begins with an emphasis spoken to the disciples, as related by Jesus. Our Lord began with an admonishment in reminding, “it is enough for the servant to be as the lord”. This statement corresponds to a Jewish proverb. By hearing this saying, the disciples likely made right associations between disciple and master. They were told to go and do ministerial acts much like Jesus had already accomplished... preaching, teaching, healing while proclaiming the arrival of God's kingdom. However, like the upcoming Jesus persecutions, their Lord... the disciples will also be “handed over”, scourged, led before governors, and killed... in like manner.

 This statement by Matthew to his churches recalled for the hearers the passion of Jesus, and the words were written in the gospel by 85 a.d., of such importance were they. But the statement also leads we who gather today.

 The reading for this day reveals that those persecutions were not special experiences for  only the first missionaries who worked fervently under the yoke of the Romans emperors. Suffering and persecution are experiences encountered for disciples, around the world... even to this day.

We are called to remember, the early churches of Matthew were told that they were to experience the same accusations as their Lord. The context helped the congregations within the first century church to understand that their suffering would cause division in the families and more. The disciples of every time and place need look forward to the new community formed in Jesus’ name. We who minister as his disciples today need to be keenly aware of this prophetic message.

You see, Jesus’ suffering is the basic model for the future of all disciples. The ordeal originates in the mission he began. As Christians then, we are called to also live in tension with the world around us, and know the possibilities and probabilities of our ministry. The importance of this message, therefore, is to make spiritual sense of true Christian Church suffering.  Matthew understood and communicated the suffering of Jesus to the readers and hearers of in the gospel, but the communication comes to us with a word of comfort. In summation Matthew and others stated that Jesus said in finality, “Therefore, do not be afraid.”

Now I repeat to you that same blessing, and… “May the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen”