July 4 Sermon: Guided Meditation

Guided Meditation
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
Rev. Kate Hurst Floyd, Holy Covenant UMC
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. ²He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.

Imagine the places Jesus is calling you to go in your life. Where is the harvest? Is it in your family and personal life? Is he calling you to a new place in your work life? In schooling? Is your harvest to a new journey within yourself? A place of forgiveness, peace, hope? Is he calling you out of yourself, to leave your comfort zone? To serve others? Help the hurt and the lost and the least? Where is Jesus calling you to go?

³Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.

What is weighing you down on your journey? Imagine that Jesus is calling you to let go of your stuff, your purse and bag and sandals…maybe its physical stuff in your home, your car, your clothes, your electronics. What is distracting you from going on your journey? What does it feel like to let it all go?

⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” ⁶And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. ⁷Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.

Continue on your journey, and picture saying to everyone you meet: Peace to you. Imagine greeting the people on your path as if they are fellow travelers, children of God, called by Jesus. How does that change your journey? And now imagine staying with them, even when it’s more comfortable to get up and leave. Stay with that discomfort and go deeper on your journey instead of rushing from place to place.

⁸Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; ⁹cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” ¹⁰But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹“Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”

What is Jesus calling you to proclaim on your journey? What’s the good news, the hope, that you can share with others on your path. Imagine what you would say to others when they ask you why you are traveling…do you tell them about peace? Joy? Fulfillment? Forgiveness? Patience? Discernment? How do you describe the Kingdom of God to those you encounter?

¹⁶ ‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’

On your journey, know that Jesus is calling you to tell the truth, about who you are and the one who sent you. Never apologize for being a beloved child of God, and living your life that way. Never apologize for knowing that you are sent out in the name of love, new life, justice, mercy, and grace. Know that God is sending you, and worldly rejection is not strong enough to overcome God’s call. Know and believe that call.

¹⁷The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ ¹⁸He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. ²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’

What scares you about your journey? What are your snakes and scorpions—is it money trouble? Rejection? Fear of change? Risk of loss? Worries of discomfort? Fear of the unknown? Name your fears…..now let them go. Let them go…as you breathe in and breathe out….let them go.

For Jesus is calling you on a journey, and his love is greater than any fear. Let that love ground you, center you, and send you out into the harvest, proclaiming new life for you and all you meet. As you breathe in, and breathe out…

Tags: Kate

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