Exodus 19: 2–8a / Psalm 100 / Romans 5: 1–8 / Matthew 9:35 – 10:23
This is the written version of the
homily given at Flohr’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) in McKnightstown,
Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 14, 2026 by Fr. Gene Tucker, Interim Pastor.
“THE ‘STUFF’ OF THE GOOD NEWS”
(Homily text: Matthew 9:35 – 10:23)
Stuff.
“Stuff”
is a word I use a lot. A friend, not too long ago, said to me, “You use the
word ‘stuff” a lot. I’m going to get you something with the word ‘stuff’ on
it.” He did, and I now have a sweatshirt with a saying on it: “I like stuff”. I
get a good many comments when I wear it.
“Stuff”
is a wonderfully useful word. “Stuff” can mean good things, or it can mean
not-so-good things. “Good stuff” could be something like an object or a gift
that you’ve been wanting for a long time. Or, “stuff” could be ordinary things
we have to do, like chores….in that case, “stuff” is of the not-so-great
variety. An example of this sort of “stuff” would be when someone asks you what
you’re going to do this afternoon, you reply that you’re going to be doing
“stuff”, meaning that you’re going to tackle that mess that passes for your
bedroom or your house. (I realize this is a condition that – in particular –
afflicts teenagers.)
This
morning, we consider some really “good stuff”, the “stuff” of the Good News of
God, made known in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew
relates to us how the Lord sent out His disciples, gifting them with some very
good “stuff”, and saying to them that “the kingdom has come near”.
The
Lord’s command to go out into the world, carrying the gift of God’s good
“stuff”, was accompanied by this encouraging word: “The harvest is plentiful”.
Therefore, the Lord says, “Pray that the Lord will send laborers into the
harvest”.
The
“stuff” of the Gospel (Good News) is made up of the good things that will point
as signs to its value: Those who had been harassed and helpless - up until the
coming of the Good News – will now have someone to lead and to care for them; the
sick will be cured; the dead will come to life again; and the powers of evil
will be defeated.
Put
another way, when the “good stuff” of the kingdom arrives, changes – for the
better – will come as well.
But,
the Lord is blunt, warning those who will be the carriers of this “good stuff”,
the Gospel, won’t have an easy time of it as they share what God has done: Some
will reject the “stuff” of the Good News. Others will be openly hostile.
(Perhaps the description of the hardships that those who had been sent out is also
a prediction of the conditions facing Matthew and his faith community as Mathew’s
Gospel account is being written, perhaps late in the first century.)
You
and I today, as Jesus’ messengers in our time and place, have the same set of
instructions as those twelve Disciples (who will soon become Apostles[1], as
they were sent out into the known world following the Lord’s resurrection and
ascension) who were sent to God’s people so long ago.
We have
the same great, good gift to bring, the “good stuff” of the Good News of God,
made known in Christ.
The
Lord’s message we bear still means that life will now have purpose. It means
that evil will be defeated. It means that divine healing still works to restore
life to the fulness of God’s intent (by the way, we’ve had a divine healing
here at Flohr’s not long ago…God be praised!).
Above
all, it means that changes, for the better, will come as the “good stuff” of
the Gospel is received into the hearts of those who hear it.
Is
there any higher calling, any more important purpose, than the instructions
we’ve been given, those same instructions given to the Lord’s original band of
Disciples? I can’t think of any.
May
God empower us to faithfully carry the “good stuff” of the Good News to any and
to all whom we meet along life’s pathway.
AMEN.
[1] The title “Apostle” comes from the Greek words, which mean someone who is sent out.
