The kingdom of heaven is near

Today's Gospel reading was from Matthew 9:35-10:8. The sermon began with two words that he said we'd probably never heard used to begin a sermon before: bowel movement. (Was he right?) He said the ancient Greeks believed that the bowels, which are a major part of our body, were the seat of our emotions. The word used to describe Jesus' compassion really means his bowels moved. Obviously the translators of the Bible couldn't really use that translation since it has such a different meaning for English speakers. So they used the word compassion. When we feel, we tend to feel it in our gut. Whether it's fear, excitement, whatever, we tend to feel something right about there.

The word translated as harassed had different meanings as well. It could mean a flayed corpse; wearied of a journey that never ends; vexed by evil people using words (I was writing frantically so I didn't get the exact definition of that last one but you probably get the idea). The word translated as helpless could mean to lie on the floor and not move; prostrate on the floor like your were dead. When He saw them in this condition, his bowels moved-He felt it in His gut.

Matthew, who was writing this Gospel, made a point that they were lost sheep. In the OT God is referred to as the shepherd of Israel. Jesus had "stepped in" as the Shepherd. He was the Lord come to shepherd His people. Matthew, as a tax collector, was one of an unlikely bunch of people chosen to tend to these sheep. He was an outcast himself, and he was being sent out to the lost sheep of Israel.

Our pastor talked about how much help is needed in Kuwait now. There are 95 Phillipino women being detained in one room who are in need of various hygiene products. There are a group of Phillipino men who have been jailed for about a year and all they need are tickets home. There was a maid who was beaten by her Kuwaiti employer until the flesh on her back was shredded (definitely one of the meanings for harassed above). There is so much need for help here that it's easy to be overwhelmed by it. When you're overwhelmed with need for help in helping others, pray for labourers.

A fellow monk of Martin Luther, when Luther left to go out in the world, told him that he'd pray for him. One night he dreamed of a huge field ready for harvest and there was one, lowly figure trying to bring it in. He recognized Luther and felt convicted by what he saw. The next day he joined him in the harvest.

Muslims often use this part of Matthew's Gospel to "prove" that Jesus' Gospel wasn't universal- just for the Jews. (They believe that Mohammad's revelations were universal.) But the Jews were just the ones who had the first chance to receive Christ. They were God's chosen people so they had first chance, so to speak. But they were not equipped as messengers to Gentiles. They were the lost sheep of Israel. They couldn't lead anyone anywhere.

Jesus' message brought spiritual help. He said the kingdom of heaven is near. Why would they walk out into the desert to hear that? They felt God had abandoned them. He was up in heaven and far away from them. Here was the Good News that He not only hadn't abandoned them, but He was near! The Jews of Jesus' day lived in a pagan culture where the gods were viewed as playing a giant chess game with the people on earth. They didn't feel that God was near them. How many of you have ever awakened feeling abandoned, alone, helpless? Jesus is here! That was Good News for the Jews that He was there with them.

Jesus gave His disciples a list of things to do. How many of us think that list doesn't apply to us? First he told them to proclaim the good news that "The kingdom of heaven has come near." Second, He told them to cure the sick. Well, there weren't a lot of doctors back then so that would have been a rather necessary thing for them to do, but we have plenty of doctors now so we don't have to try that ourselves, right? The word for sick can also mean weak-go give strength to the weak. We can do that, can't we? There are certainly plenty of opportunities here in Kuwait. Other places as well. Third, raise the dead. How on earth do we do that?! There's a spiritual condition of being dead. We can certainly share the Gospel with people so they can find new life, right? Fourth, cleanse the lepers. They were cast out of society and rejected. They felt dirty and that they couldn't possibly be in the presence of God, right? We can certainly help the outcasts in our society feel welcome and whole, can't we? Fifth, cast out demons. How many of us have seen someone possessed by demons. Besides, isn't that really just a form of mental illness? Not so fast. We can confront evil. We can name it and get it out in Christ's name. There is plenty of evil in society over here. There's plenty in society in the US and elsewhere.

There is a thing called compassion fatigue going around. There is no place in the life of a Christian for compassion fatigue.