The Plumb Line

The Gospel reading from Mark 6:7 gives us in three terse sentences, the function and responsibility of the Apostles– those sent out by Christ with his message. “And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.”

The apostles, in today’s lesson, were sent with very little other than their message. Just as every election day is a judgment day, so the Religious Establishments find themselves under judgment, whether they like it or not. The main line denominations in this country, and as I understand it, also in Western Europe, have not kept pace with population growth and have shrunk 30% in recent decades. All are under judgment, because they have not been straight either with their stated values and doctrines or their constituent members.

In Matthew 28:18-20 is recorded another saying of Jesus, very much in tune with the message in today’s Gospel where he send out the 12. His last words to the apostles have not been recalled either by Jesus or the Apostolic College or their Successors. It is still the task of the Church to bring the Good News to the world, beginning right here.