Freedom, 15th Sunday, Ordinary Time

Today’s readings are about being called and sent. But, being called and sent only has real meaning if we are free to accept or reject the calling and sending. In the beginning God called us forth from the dust of nothingness to become human beings, made in his image and likeness.

And God declared us good and set us forth to multiply. Not to simply populate a planet, but to multiply his image and likeness throughout the world. But what does it mean to be made in God’s imagine and likeness.  What does this imagine and likeness look like?

On one level it looks like creative and transforming love.  St Paul says; love is patient, and kind, hopeful and faithful, love believes all things and rejoices in the truth.

But, at a deeper, structural level, being made in the image and likeness of God means being is free and self-determining. This is what it means to be a person.

God’s gift of freedom is precious, yet it is dangerous. It is the tree in the center of the Garden of Eden and its fruit is seductive. But, God has given us reason and will to help us discern the true and the good. And it is reason and will which gives us the ability to choose the better good, though we often do not.

  Why freedom and choice in the first place? Why, do I need or want the ability’s to choose, when I most often choose poorly? Make me holy and be done with it. The answer is both hidden and self-evident. We know this from our very human experience. It’s all about love.

As a human being, I am loved by God, but I must be free to choose how I respond. It is the only way. We must be free to choose to love. Love that is forced it not love at all.  Even God, who loves us first, does not force us to love him. Choosing to love is the greatest of all human actions and every true and just action arises from this.

 To be called and sent requires freedom.

 We see the pattern of God’s calling and sending meeting our freedom in how we respond over and over. We see it in Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Moses. We see it in the Prophets; Ezekiel, when the Lord spoke to him and set him on his feet. Jeremiah, called by the Lord and appointed prophet to the nations. And today, Amos reveals when questioned, I am not a prophet, I was a keeper of trees and a shepherd, but the Lord took me and a said go prophesy.

God’s call, always surprising and unexpected, requires our freedom to accept or reject it.

In today’s second reading St Paul tells the Ephesians we are chosen, in Christ, to be holy.

But, being chosen is not the end, the beginning, It is the invitation.  It is doing, in the Spirit, what is holy, that makes us holy. It is not magic or wishful thinking. Being chosen is our individual calling forth and sending out to multiply the image and likeness of God in the world. (as a spouse, parent, or grandparent, as a brother or sister, parishioner or deacon). 

And the Grace and blessings that come from saying yes to what is good and holy is the first installment of our inheritance as children of God.

Jesus called his disciples. He did not make them follow. There was no force of will as master to slave. Jesus did not cast a spell over them. He invited them to come and see. He invited them to decide for themselves - love me if you will.  They did choose, in truth and freedom, to come and see. They choose to love him and do as he did. Each of us is invited to love and follow Jesus, and by the grace of God, we are free to accept or not.

Our acceptance might be hesitant, our love wavering, our following imperfect, but it will real and heartfelt because it will be our true desire longing to be fulfilled. 

 Jesus sends forth. He sends out the twelve, two by two, into the surrounding villages and towns. He gives them his spirit to proclaim the word of God and his authority over unclean spirits.  The work they do, in Jesus’ name, makes God’s kingdom present to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see and who are cured and healed.

Go quickly, the hour is late. Nothing is more important. Take nothing, but a good walking stick and a pair of sturdy sandals for the road. Go, rely on God and the hospitality of strangers. There is urgency in the air.

Jesus also instructs them that when you enter a house stay there. Be present where you are. There

is no more important work, than the work at hand. Reach out, it’s right before you.

Do not speculate or worry about the future.  God’s work is not for some other time or some other place or when I am ready. God’s work is always right here, right now.

But, there is a hard truth that comes with freedom. Jesus tells them that whoever does not welcome you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet.

This is a mystery of faith. We are free to turn our back on the Kingdom of God.  We are free not to love. Jesus knew this to be true and the twelve came to know it as well, and we know it today.

 God’s gift of freedom is both very precious and very dangerous.  God offers us everything, but we are free to go away empty handed.

 In the love of God we are made free and self-determining.  It is truly a sin and a scandal that some of us are denied freedom by the powers of this world or our own disorder and blindness.

But, Regardless of who we are or where we find ourselves, we can choose the better good. We can choose the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of princes.  We can always choose to love.

Today Jesus reminds us, and we listen to him. We have been called and sent. We are to travel light and without worry, for we travel with God. Go forth and multiply his image and likeness everywhere you go.