So, send I you

One of the things I love about the gospel readings from the lectionary after Easter, is that many of the gospels are about the resurrected Jesus appearing to those who followed him during his earthly ministry.  John 20:19 - 23 states "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said "Peace be with you!"  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!"  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone their sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

A couple things that I find interesting about this text is that Jesus bids the disciples "peace" twice.  He also breathes on them and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit, and his message was simple, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you.  The KJV text reads:  "As the father hath sent me, so send I you."  Friends, Jesus was sent here a couple thousand years ago to reconcile us back to the Father.  He came from heavenly glory through forty-two generations to live, suffer and die like one of us.  The charge that Jesus gave to his disciples in the absence of Thomas was simply this.  My Father has sent me, but you must continue the work.  I echo the words of Jesus and remind you that you are on a mission.

As an ambassador of the Kingdom, you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel of love and inclusivity to all who will hear and receive it.  Everyone will not receive what you have to say, but don't let that deter you.  Remember that many times, it's not what you say, but what you do that people will remember.  As a minister, whether lay or ordained, your greatest sermon will most likely be a silent sermon, in which you minister to someone through compassionate acts of kindness or the mere fact that you are there.  The world is waiting and hurting, but there is an ever present help in the form of YOU.  So, send I you!

Check out the first two verses of the hymn -- "So, send I you!"


So send I you to labour unrewarded
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown
To bear rebuke, ot suffer scorn and scoffing
So send I you to toil for Me alone.

So send I you to bind the bruised and broken
Over wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake
To bear the burdens of a world a-weary
So send I you to suffer for My sake.

Peace,
Karsten