Pondering for Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 24: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 26 and 28; Evening,  Psalms 36 and 39;

Ecclesiasticus 6:5to17; Revelation 7:9to17; Luke 10:1to16

“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” (Luke 10:1)

So our Lord Jesus sent his followers out to places where he himself intended to go.  It is important to note here that Jesus sent them out in pairs.  There are many faith traditions today that follow this example of evangelism. I think there is something about the integrity of two. Also, the two usually consist of a leader and an apprentice.

This idea of pairing appears in the Hebrew Testament as well.  Some examples are Abraham and Sarah, or Abraham and Lot; Ruth and Naomi; Moses and Aaron; David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha.  There are others as well.  Partnering, either with one’s spouse or significant other; or a vocational missioner; partnering, is how God designed us to be, and the way God wants us to go about our lives. This is why God, in Christ Jesus, sends us out in twos.

When pairing with a partner for Bible Study or building a shed, one of the two needs to be well informed about whatever the undertaking is, the other needs to agree to follow his or her lead. The other piece about partnering is that often such relationships aren’t permanent and are not intended to be applied to other vocations.  Using the example above, one of the two teaching Bible study should have some kind of biblical education.  For building a shed, one of the two should have experience in carpentry.

Partner relationships evolve.  As we learn and grow we often gravitate to other partners.  In this way we develop greater skills and move on to new and different areas of interests or missions.  Whether we are pondering about our personal spirituality or wanting to learn a new language, there is always someone we can seek out whom we can emulate.  Someone once told me that if you see who you want to be in another person, you can copy him or her. But first, you have to see it. This is the master and protégé or apprentice concept. It still works today.  God made us to copy one another. However, we must choose wisely.  Therefore, you must seek out those who are themselves walking humbly before our Lord and traveling to all the places where Jesus himself intends to go.  Partner with such people and listen to them, learn from them, love, live and then finally, you yourself, will also lead a protégé or apprentice.

 Please remember to keep Ukraine in your prayers, our prayers are making a real difference.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John