Today in the Spirit: World Missions Sunday C
In our BCP 2019, we have the required liturgical observation of a World Mission Sunday every year during Epiphany. What better way to celebrate the love of the Father shining the light of Jesus Christ into the world than to contemplate our calling into the global mission of Christ, to take account of how that work is progressing, and to widen our understanding of Church identity beyond our own local expression.
The assigned Gospel reading for World Mission Sunday C is John 20:19-31. Each year at Easter 1, we meditate on this reading as an account of a resurrection appearance of Jesus. This Sunday, our attention is turned, instead, to what our Lord says when he appears. The words that will draw particular attention this Sunday are
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Jesus said to [the disciples] again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
John 20:21-23
We consider what it means to carry the “peace” and forgiveness with us in the world mission on which we are sent.
We will be prepared to hear the line “as the Father has sent me” in the Gospel reading by listening first to the assigned OT reading from Isaiah 61:1-4. These words, which the Israelites in exile might have understood to be Isaiah’s own but which we Christians received as from the mouth of the pre-incarnate Messiah, describe the self-understanding of the speaker’s mission in these terms:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1-3
“Has sent me” in Isaiah and John.
Psalm 96 is a call to worship the Church often appoints, here and on Christmas Day every year, to strike up a celebratory tone in the liturgy. On World Mission Sunday, we will note in this song multiple references to the earth, the world, and the nations. So it begins, “O sing unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the LORD, all the whole earth. Sing unto the LORD and praise his Name; tell of his salvation daily. Declare his honor to the nations, and his wonders to all peoples” (1-3, BCP New Coverdale).
The assigned NT reading from Romans 10:9-17 is a selection in the middle of that section of Paul’s letter addressing the apostle’s concern for the salvation of “the Israelites” (see 10:1). He goes from there to his teaching on faith in Christ as the new instrument of God for securing devotion to him in the world. So, at the conclusion of the passage, we will hear these words: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (17).
The appointed Collect for World Mission Sunday is the same as one of the alternative Collects for the Day of Pentecost. Where on Whitsunday we might be focused on the divine act of “the outpouring of the Spirit” itself, on this Sunday, we turn our hearts to the effect of the act, pleading as a whole body to God: “Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospe,l your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The Collect
Almighty God, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Spirit of the LORD GOD Is upon Me (Isaiah 61:1-4)
1 The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me,
Isaiah 61:1-4
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Read v. 1 slowly and out loud with emphasis on the repetition of “me.” Doing so should send our imaginations in two directions: first, to an individual embodiment of the Servant Messiah, Jesus Christ, from whom this prophetic word is coming to us in Isaiah. As we heard earlier this season from the Gospel reading in Luke 4, the incarnate Jesus clearly claims himself to be the fulfillment of this predicted minister to the “poor” and “brokenhearted.” But, then, the healing ministry of Jesus Christ continues with his body in heaven seated on the throne of glory and, yes, his body on earth in the Church, the new Israel. Note the abrupt transition to “they” in v. 4. All at once, the “me” becomes an us carrying on the work of reparation in the world.
Devotionally, then, we count ourselves at all times as being both those who are mended by Christ and those carrying forth mending in Christ to others. Think of the world as a hospital. There is never a time in our mortal lives as Christians when we are not both a patient under the doctor’s care and a helper at the doctor’s side caring for others. Humbly and boldly, we engage in ministry with the mindset that we continue to be ministered by the Lord Jesus. We must take care of not overindulging in the medicines of care so as not to serve, nor enter service proudly forgetting the unhealthy state from which we are being cured. It is a hard beam to balance on, but we can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Today, in the Spirit of Jesus, who both saves and sends, we walk the thin line this prophecy lays down for us to be healed by God and to help him in the healing of others.
Sing to the LORD a New Song (Psalm 96)
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; *
Psalm 96, New Coverdale Psalter (BCP 2019)
sing unto the LORD, all the whole earth.
2 Sing unto the LORD and praise his Name; *
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his honor to the nations, *
and his wonders to all peoples.
4 For the LORD is great, and highly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
6 Glory and majesty are before him; *
power and honor are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe unto the LORD, O you families of the peoples, *
ascribe unto the LORD worship and power.
8 Ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
10 Tell it out among the nations, “The LORD is King; *
it is he who has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; he shall judge the peoples righteously.”
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; *
let the sea make a noise, and all that is therein.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; *
then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD.
13 For he comes, for he comes to judge the earth, *
and with righteousness to judge the world, and the peoples with his truth.
See the many exhortations to noise in this call to worship—”sing” (1), “declare” (3), “ascribe” (7), etc. The one to “sing” stands out. Sing, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from or what language you use. Sing, irrespective of how well you sound. “Sing to the LORD” (NIV) specifies the audience and the theme. We sing to the One God—of the One God: his character, his works, his power, and his uniqueness. “Sing to the LORD a new song” speaks to we Christians of the new covenant of Jesus Christ–but what about it? Not just the timeless doctrines and the old stories (though we could do with more of that in our worship) but also our fresh, “new” experiences of his goodness revealed to us personally and corporately as people in Christ.
In our devotional life, we honestly can do nothing other than respond to the call of the psalmist to let our singing fly. What legitimate excuses can we really put forward to standing with our arms crossed and refusing to sing in worship? Once in a while, through a quiet period, the Lord draws us into—maybe, but never? We are all built to praise the Lord in song. I have seen, and I am sure many of you have too, brothers and sisters who are blind, deaf or mute showing enthusiasm at the time of singing that puts me to shame. Are you embarrassed you cannot hold a tune? The psalmist insists you get over it. Nothing new to sing about? The psalmist demands you open your hearts and bring forth the new thanksgivings and the fresh insights that cause your heart to leap. This psalm demands we take the prophet at his word, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).
Today, Holy Spirit, grant me renewed vision to apprehend fresh motives popping up in me for praise and the voice to sing the new song in the company of my brothers and sisters.
The Word of Christ (Romans 10:9-17)
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:9-17
“The word of Christ” (17), or “the word about Christ” (NIV), or “the preached word of Christ” (NET)? Linguistic gymnastics occur in the various English translations of this phrase at the end of our reading. The literal translation (as in ESV) might suggest “the word” is Christ’s own coming through the preaching of a human vessel. Now, if you don’t want to communicate that and say Paul is only talking about the human preacher, you have to add something to the literal rendering of the Greek (as in NIV and NET). But what if it is both-and? What if Paul has in mind that it is Christ actively proclaiming his word through the preaching activity of his ministers?
The former bishop of our diocese was often heard saying to our congregations, “Our business is making disciples. How’s business here?” It’s a fitting question for World Mission Sunday. And, given the insight from Romans above, our answer must always be, “Better than could be hoped for.” Why? Because it is Jesus Christ himself speaking his “word” for the world to hear. Globally, the number of Christians is multiplying daily, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Fully one-third of the world’s population would identify as Christian. That kind of multiplication cannot be explained merely by the good work of preachers and missionaries alone. The Lord multiplies the effectiveness of our meager efforts, picks us up when we are weak, and uses opposition to his advantage. The enemy hasn’t got a chance.
We may get discouraged by what we estimate is the state of our Christian “business” locally. Be not discouraged. Today, in the Spirit, we will carry on with the word of Christ,” trusting he is always doing much more behind the scenes than we can see with our eyes.
So I Am Sending You (John 20:19-31)
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31
Note the two-fold purpose statement in the last verse: “that you may believe” and “that you may have life” (31). It was Jesus’ own purpose not only that he should gain followers, but that he might give life, “eternal life,” “abundant life” (Jn. 6:40, 10:10). Jesus was sent by the Father to give life; and on World Mission Sunday we remember, as the Father has sent him to give life, he is sending us to do the same in Jesus’ name. John, in wording this statement as he does, demonstrates his desire to be sent into the world like his Lord.
Devotionally, we might consider if our approach to commending the faith to others—family, friends, work colleagues, schoolmates—is merely belief-producing or life-giving. So much of our effort is spent on getting people to go to church. Nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but we should note that not once in twenty-one chapters of John does he tell anyone to go to church. Instead, he talks about Jesus—who he is, what he does, and how he changes people’s lives. We would do well to have stories of Jesus transforming people’s lives, especially ours. Less inviting to church and more telling stories.
To make this point, what could be better than the poem by Helen Howarth Lemmel from which has come the beloved Christian chorus:
“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace. Amen.”
Today, in the Spirit, hearing Jesus tell us that we are sent as he was and reading John’s heart to promote “life more abundant and free,” I turn my eyes on Jesus and see if I might persuade others to look with me.
Today in the Spirit
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