I Am Over Here

Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10:1-7)

We would all love to have authority over unclean spirits and to drive them out thereby curing us of every illness and disease, especially viruses such as Covid-19.  However, it’s more realistic for us to drive out the unclean spirit called hate.

We do have power over that uncleanliness although many of us choose to let that spirit – that disease of the mind and soul– run wild.  There is a cure, and Jesus is that salesman with the remedy.  It’s compassion, empathy, and love – the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus might have said, according to Mathew, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  After all, he was a Jew.  However, we might find that a bit strange considering we are not Jewish, and Jesus came to us through his disciples and through our faith in him and for all that he stood.

Most of us are lost sheep in one way or another.  We might be lost due to our preoccupation with secular affairs.  Job loss and financial despair can cause us to lose our way.  Loss of loved ones causes darkness, blindness, and aimless wandering with our wanting to be found.

Jesus is the finder of lost sheep.   So, let’s all raise our hands and shout, “I’m over here!”

Deacon David Pierce