Proper 8 :: Jeremiah 22:1 – 14 / Psalm 13 / Romans 6:12 - 23 / Matthew 10:40 – 42
This
is the homily given at St. John’s, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on Sunday, July 2,
2023 by Fr. Gene Tucker.
“IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICE OF THE LORD”
(Homily text: Matthew 10:40 – 42)
At one time or another in our lives, we
will serve as representatives of someone – or something – else.
For example, members of the armed
forces, or of law enforcement (just to cite two examples), wear distinctive
clothing to denote the fact that they are representatives of the government.
Their uniforms also describe their function to others.
Even if some in our society don’t wear
what we would call a “uniform”, oftentimes their clothing or their appearance
gives clues as to their identities, or perhaps also what they might deem to be
important. Think of teenagers and their appearance, as an example. It seems as
though teenagers’ appearance is a relatively unchanging reality of contemporary
society, whether we compare teenagers’ appearance in years gone by, or today.
We could also say much the same thing
about other members of society.
In today’s very brief Gospel text (only
three verses!), Jesus describes a relationship between His followers – His
disciples – Himself and the God who sent Him. At its most basic level, what
Jesus is describing is a relationship based on representation. Put another way,
what we hear this morning is essentially this: “As you go out into the world,
and people receive (or don’t receive) you, what reception they give you is
bound up in your relationship with me, and – in turn – with my relationship
with the Father.”
St. Paul will follow on this theme, I
think, as he says “Put on Christ” (Romans 13:14), or, as he is writing to the
early church in Corinth, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal
through us” (II Corinthians 5:20).
How might Christians adopt some sort of
a “uniform” to show the One that they represent, and to show their function, to
others?
One answer can be found in the
distinctive dress of the Amish and the Mennonites in our area. The Amish are
more distinctive in their dress, but Mennonite women usually wear a prayer cap.
Other groups (I think of Pentecostal Christians, as one example), where women
are expected to wear ankle-length skirts and dresses, and to wear their hair in
a distinctive fashion.
For other Christians, there is no
distinction expectation concerning dress.
But, if we don’t appear to represent
Christ in some distinctive manner like the Amish or the Mennonites do, then how
might we act as ambassadors (to use Paul’s description) for Christ?
Perhaps one way might be in our speech.
In today’s social climate, it’s probably not a good way to proclaim Christ by
waying of stating something to someone on the order of, “If you died tonight,
would you be sure that you were going to heaven?” Granted, some Christians will
use such an avenue of introduction and approach as they share the Good News
with others. Alas, some Christians use an even blunter approach, which is
equally as undesirable or unproductive (in my view).
If we take Paul’s admonition that we
are to be ambassadors, then perhaps a more-gentle approach – which is a
hallmark of successful diplomacy – is the better approach. For example, when
encountering a person in some sort of distress or trouble, we might say, “Can I
pray for you? If you want to share something about what you’re going through,
it’ll help my prayers on your behalf, for I feel sure that prayer changes
things”.
And, of course, the other avenue that
we might faithfully represent Christ is in our behavior and our attitudes
toward others. We might, as one place to start, work to lessen the animosity of
one group toward another, or to work to regard all persons as children of God
and God’s specific, deeply-loved creation.
As we move through our days and our
nights, we are – whether we know it or not, or whether we especially like it or
not – we are ambassadors for Christ, Christ making His appeal through us. For
we are marked as Christ’s own in Holy Baptism, a condition that makes an
indelible impression on the soul.
AMEN.
