Ken Overberg, S.J.

14th Sunday, July 8, 2007

Last week we bagan proclaiming Luke’s account of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. This journey will take us through most of this liturgical year. As Leo Klein pointed out, Luke uses the journey as a literary structure, teaching his community—and now us—about the person Jesus and about the meaning of discipleship. The journey is also more: it is a symbol of life and our lives—movement and change in time and space, in insight and love.

Today’s gospel describes Jesus sending out disciples. As often in his gospel, Luke uses earlier material, here for Jesus’ directives to these disciples. Most likely, these are instructions from an early Christian community for missionaries in Palestine, who expected the imminent appearance of the reign of God. The text gives us a picture of total urgency and trust.

But by Luke’s time, people realized the need to reinterpret the expectation of the end time. The reign of God is already present in a real but different way. Hospitality and hope, dependence on and trust in God remain key characteristics of the life of discipleship, even if expressed in new ways.

Hope is also the theme of our first reading, from the very end of the book of Isaiah, from the unknown prophet we call Third Isaiah, who lived with the people in Jerusalem after the return from exile. It was a despairing time in which Third Isaiah offered his vision of promise and peace, joy and hope. Though not part of today’s passage, Isaiah’s vision was also very inclusive, extending far beyond the people of Israel. Ultimately, this part of his message was rejected by the people.

The second reading gives us the very end of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. One more time Paul rejects obedience to the Law and urges faith in Jesus. By the way, in antiquity the Greek word stigmata (often translated “brand marks”) designated the branding used to mark a slave or animal. The “marks” Paul describes are scars from his beatings for preaching the gospel. These brands mark him as a “slave of Christ,” as he describes himself in the beginning of this letter.

A wealth of images today! Find one or two that will nourish you.

Let’s listen to God’s word.

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The reign of God is at hand. The reign of God is in our midst! Yet we too live in despairing times. We too long to hear words of promise, hope, and life. And we do—every Sunday as we gather here! These words offer not some pie-in-the-sky piety, but a profound trust rooted in the gracious acts of our loving God.

The reign of God—the empire of God—is unlike most other empires. From Jesus’ life and teachings, we learn that God’s empire is characterized by forgiveness and compassion, inclusivity and love of enemies, nonviolence and generosity, trust.

In what people and events do you find signs of God’s reign in your lives? How do you contribute to God’s empire? Take some time this week to reflect, remember, and give thanks!