I didn’t think I could squeeze one more word out of this this week’s Gospel passage, but I might just manage one: Sent. It is implied in what Jesus says about people welcoming those who come in his name as prophets and righteous folks, that they are sent, as he was sent. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
What does it mean to be sent? Messengers are sent, ambassadors are sent, representatives are sent, teams are sent out on the field, troops sent to war, ambulances sent to accident sites… To be sent means to be deployed for a specific purpose. Most often in life our being sent bears some relation to our skills or connections.
Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim Good News of God’s activity in the world, to announce freedom to the poor and those in captivity, to heal the sick and raise the dead. Those are still pretty much the reasons he sends his followers out today. Do you feel sent to any particular place or people? Where do your skills and connections and passions point you?
For some time, I have been feeling sent to establish spiritual community among young professionals in the rapidly growing city where I live. Perhaps it is because people reached out to me when I was a young adult in New York; perhaps because I know so many people in that age group have a spiritual thirst and little or no experience or access to spiritual connection. I am finally moving forward on that sending, led by the Spirit.
That's the thing with God - the One who sends also leads us and equips us. Unlike a courier who goes out and reports back, apostles of Jesus Christ get to carry his presence and power with us as we go. It takes off some of the pressure, if we can only allow the Spirit to do the work and stop taking it on ourselves.
When have you felt sent by God, short or long-term?
What inner urges are you discerning – or trying to push down?
Where would you like to be sent?
Where are you afraid to be sent?
Being sent starts, like everything in the Christian life, with relationship. We strengthen our relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit so that we can better understand God's prompts. They come through our own desires, sometimes, or through discerning a need or a lack. Sometimes God makes it really clear through dreams and “coincidences” that cannot finally be denied. We can check with others if a calling seems really odd or risky – and if we go forward, it will only be fruitful if we are aware of going with God, not for God.
And wherever we are sent by God, when we get there, we find God there too. Funny how that works.
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