Freedom

A blessed, safe and happy July 4th to you all!

As we enjoy this weekend, may we give God thanks and praise for the freedoms we have in our country! We remember those who have died so that we may be free. Today we celebrate our Country’s birth, but also the freedom we have in Christ Jesus so that we may be truly free!

In the second lesson today Paul talks about a dream or vision that he had where Jesus says to him “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor: 12:9). We need this grace so when our “thorns” come along in life we can receive this love in a time of need. With sufficient grace you and I are sent out to share the Gospel Good News to a lost and dying world.

Just like the disciples in our Gospel story, we don’t need anything, we don’t need to take with us any distractions. We are equipped with a heart just like Jesus and we are refreshed in grace and love for daily living. As Jesus sent the 12, so God sends us. We are called to share the love of God and the freedom from sin won for us by Jesus Christ!

Introduction

Jesus does great deeds of power and gives his disciples authority over demons. Yet none of this power is unilateral; it all must be received by faith. Jesus asks his disciples to go out without money or supplies, so that they will be dependent on how others receive them. When we are sent from the assembly to witness and to heal, we are asked to be vulnerable, to be dependent on the reception of others. The Spirit always operates in the “between”: between Jesus and his Abba, between Jesus and us, between you and me, between us and those to whom we are sent.

Lectionary reflections

Deacon Driver's sermon and prayers