On July 4th, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was on July 4, 1776, that King George III of England wrote in his diary, “Nothing of importance happened today.” The King of England closed his diary, yawned and fell asleep, not knowing what was occurring that day in faraway Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The people who signed the Declaration of Independence were doing something important. As everyone knows, what they did was commit an act of treason against England. If they were ever captured, they would suffer the consequences, death either by firing squad or by hanging, just for signing the Declaration of Independence.
While we celebrate their courage in signing the Declaration, they were quite cautious. It was not until January 1777, six months later, that the Continental Congress made public the names of those who had signed the Declaration of Independence. Historians suggest that Congress may have feared that if the Revolution were to fail, the signers would be arrested by the British and put to death as traitors.
The Fourth of July is a time for hot dogs, BBQs, watermelon, patriotic music, beer and fireworks, but it is also a time to remember the sacrifices of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Of these signers, we do know that:
Freedom is never free. We do need to thank these patriots as well as the men and women currently fighting to keep our freedom.
This will be a surprise to those who regard politics as a dirty business or think that all politicians are liars: Jesus and politicians actually do have something in common. Jesus and politicians both “Promise us something better.” However, of course, it is the politicians who preface their promises with, “If I am elected…” and then, more often than not, do not keep those election promises.
Politicians and Jesus also have this in common: They want to get the word out to everyone. In the case of Jesus, the word he wanted to announce is that the kingdom is coming. There were no newspapers, radios, television or the internet, so how did he do it? Today’s gospel reading gives us the answer.
Jesus recruited and delegated. Recruiting and delegating is difficult. It is especially difficult for controlling, talented or extraordinary leaders. They think no one can do the job quite as well as themselves. But without delegation, these leaders will burn out, wear out or both.
Delegating to other gifted, talented and spirited people has a multiplying effect. There are people waiting for the chance to use their talents and abilities for a greater cause and people waiting to be asked to help.
When Tom Peters wrote his international bestseller in 1982, In Search of Excellence, he encouraged corporations to decentralize, delegate and discover new opportunities by allowing greater opportunity for creative energy.
Maybe Tom Peters got his idea from our gospel today. Jesus certainly decentralized, delegated and discovered new opportunities when he appointed 72 disciples to go out and share the Gift of Peace and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.
These disciples would need to have courage as they were sent without a staff (also used as a weapon), extra food or money. They would be like gentle lambs in the midst of a pack of ravishing wolves. They were told to shake the dust from their feet and move on if they were not welcomed. They were to be totally dependent on God.
I am not too sure which one of the 72 would have complained immediately, but surely someone would have said something like, “Jesus you don’t mean that I am to go with no bag or money, not even a staff, to protect myself from those wolves?”
Perhaps Jesus replied, “I have called each of you to follow me and you will find out that if you travel in God’s presence, you will have everything you need. My Father created you and we share our life with you. Because of that, you have plenty to share with others. What you must do is give freely and give to the least.”
Give peace and you will receive peace.
Give healing and you will receive healing.
Give miracles and you will receive miracles.
Jesus tells the 72, “Beware of the wolves. The wolves today are power, possessions and prestige. They will imprison you and you will not be at peace, nor will you be free. How many times have I told you, ‘You can’t serve two masters?’ If you want lasting peace and to really be free, like the birds of the air or the lilies of the field, let go. Declare your dependence on God and declare your independence from the forces of evil.”
Jesus did not send the 72 on a Mission Impossible, but one of unlimited opportunities, a mission that takes courage and dependency on God to achieve. Because our society is permeated with violence and hatred, we are no longer shocked when a man, woman, or child takes a gun and kills another. We are more shocked when a man, woman or child of peace stands up against poverty, starvation, disease, materialism, consumerism or greed.
Peace isn’t just the absence of wars. The disruption of peace has many faces, including:
Somehow, we get caught in the trap that we can buy peace; just as we get trapped into thinking we can buy happiness. We are seduced into thinking things like owning this house will win me respect and security, or wearing these clothes will make me attractive or drinking this beer will make me one of the guys.
Peace and security are found in God, not a walking stick or a club. Peace and security are found in God, not in wearing sandals or special clothes.
Peace involves being color blind when meeting other people, being deaf to jokes that degrade others, mending friendships when broken, treasuring all human life rather than despising some lives. Most of all, peace requires living the gospels as best as we can because we are brothers and sisters to one another.
Jesus commissioned the 72 disciples to spread His message of peace. He could have used angels or miracles to do this. He could have, but He didn’t! He sent 72 in the beginning, and now He calls us to be sent.
I remember, as a small boy, watching our dad mow our front lawn. Dad took immense pride in the lawn. I was probably about six or seven years old when Dad asked, “Billy do you want to help?” I replied joyfully, “Yeah!”
He took my little hands and lowered the handle of the mower so I could reach it. Dad slowed his pace as he and I pushed the mower carefully up and down the front lawn. As slow and awkward as it was, it was a father-son bonding over a shared task.
Looking back on that simple experience, I realized that Dad could have cut the grass faster and better by himself. But it wasn’t about the best front yard, it was about a father teaching his son how to recruit, delegate and discover new opportunities.
That is also what our Heavenly Father does. God allows us to help Him build the Kingdom. God wants us to have the privilege of ministering with Him. We can have the courage and trust in God to go out and make disciples if we are dependent on God.
We invite you now to declare your dependence on God as we pray the following prayer together:
DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE ON GOD
Lord God, Creator of true Liberty and Freedom, hear my Declaration of Dependence on You alone. As I pledge myself to You, fill me with your spirit of honesty, sincerity and faithfulness.
Hear me Lord as I declare my total dependence on You,
with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my strength.
I surrender myself to your holy plan for me.
May you help me to understand Your Divine Will.
I will strive for excellence in all that I do.
May Your Divine Presence always be felt within me.
I will seek to live within the spirit of simplicity.
May my greatest possession be your love and forgiveness.
I will serve you by being obedient, prayerful and joyful.
May you strengthen me to love you as you love me.
I will take time to rest for myself and be humble of heart.
May I lighten my burdens by being dependent on God.
I declare my total dependence on You, My Lord and My God.
Bless me with Your unconditional love as
I promise to be Your disciple, friend and servant.
AMEN
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