Peace and the Kingdom of God

 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    Life is full of ups and downs.  There are days of rejoicing, but there are also days of sorrow.   It is so easy to see only the bad things, the things that are going wrong, in our life.  The “downs” seem to clamor for attention at each and every second.  
    The same was true for the people to whom Jesus came.  The Jewish people were ruled by the Romans, who were not known for their generosity nor gentleness to those they ruled, especially when those they ruled had a tendency to rebel and cause problems, as certain groups of Jews did.  There was a puppet king, Herod, whom the Romans allowed to exercise some little authority to try to appease the Chosen People, but who held no respect from the people.  No prophet had claimed to speak for God for hundreds of years, save John the Baptist.  The Pharisees remained ever-present to remind you not to break the law.  Leprosy was lurking in the population, which would get you expelled from your neighborhood and basic civilization.  The rich seemed to always get richer, and the poor seemed always to get poorer.

    In the midst of that sorry situation, Jesus sent His disciples out to announce “peace” and good news.  What is that good news?  That the Kingdom of God is at hand.  God’s reign was breaking into the world, and the final battle had begun that would lead to the irrevocable victory of God.  God’s People would no longer be oppressed by any force, earthly or spiritual.  God’s Word would not only be heard, but would come to fulfillment.  The Law would be written on hearts and would be liberating.  Sickness and disease would cease, and all would have their fill of the good things of the Lord.  That does sound like good news!!
    And that is the same message that we proclaim today.  The message has not, in essence, changed in 2,000 years, because it is not our message, but the message of the Messiah.  The message has not changed in essence in 2,000 years because, while governments come and go; while words from experts and gurus multiply every year; while some use rules to put others down; while new viruses continue to wreak havoc and the poor are still separated from the rich, yet the Kingdom of God is still breaking into our world, leading to it’s perfect fulfillment at the end of time.  And we still need to hear that good news.
    Because it is easy to notice all the negative.  It is easy to focus on the faults and failings and the things that never seem to go well or as we planned.  It is easy for our hearts to be disturbed and full of anger and hate.  And so we still need to hear, “‘Peace to this household’” and “‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”  
    You probably need to hear that message, and so I proclaim it to you.  But you also probably know people who need to hear that message, who need peace and the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God in their lives.  And it is so easy to put it off sharing that with others.  It’s so easy to let our day become filled with noise and busyness and many things that we don’t have to do, but that keep us blissfully numb.  How many times have we thought, “I should call this person”, only to then quickly move on to the next task at hand and not call them for days…or weeks…or ever?  
    8 June was National Best Friends Day.  I think this is a holiday that Hallmark made up.  But none the less, it’s a thing.  And so I bought my two best friends cards expressing gratitude for being a good friend to me.  Let me tell you, it’s a little hard to find good cards to send best friends who are guys.  Many were a bit too mushy for my liking, so I did the best I could with the selection from which I was choosing.  A few days later I saw one of my best friends, and he thanked me for the card, but wondered why I sent it.  I guess I forgot to put “Happy National Best Friends Day” in the card.  But I sent it because I am grateful and appreciate my friends, and so I said so.

    When was the last time you sent a card or a letter to someone?  Not an email; not a text; not even a phone call.  When was the last time you wrote a letter or wrote a physical note to someone?  Emails, texts, and phone calls are nice.  But cards say you went the extra mile to take time and write out words and buy a stamp and put it in the mail.  Even if you’re not wandering around the countryside to spread God’s peace and kingdom like the disciples in the Gospel, you can do so by the mail.  That one letter or card can change a person’s life.  Especially for the younger folk here, I know that seems like an odd thing to write a letter, but it really does make a difference.  We’re so used to getting only bills or junk ads in the mail.  When we get a card or a letter, it’s a very pleasant surprise.
    Every town and every person has its ups and downs.  We have good days and bad days.  But Jesus has commissioned us to spread His peace and the good news of the kingdom that Jesus won by His Blood.  When we do this, maybe by writing a letter or a card, it can raise someone to new life and help to inscribe our names in heaven.