Grace and peace to you from God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

I don't know that anyone would argue that we live in a great nation. Despite its faults there are few places that anyone could say is a better place to be. When we sort through all the arguments the fact remains people are trying to immigrate to the United States from all points because it still is a land of promise.

Although for the last fifty years people have tried to put a spin on American history that downplays and even omits the Judeo-Christian roots of our nation the fact is that is why we are here today. Most people that came to settle in the new world were searching for a place to escape the religious persecutions of Europe. Yes they had backing from entrepreneurs and governments that were capitalizing on the treasures of the new world. But then nothing in this fallen world is completely free of sinful motives.

If you have an interest in history I would invite you to read The Light and the Glory, Marshall and Manuel a carefully researched history of events that show the hand of God at work in forming of the United States.

One of the many explorers of the new world was Isaac Jogues a Jesuit priest. He was one of many men spreading the light of Christianity in the new world. Jogues was a man of great love of the Lord. He was captured by the Iroquois and tortured by them and the Mohawks. The torture left his hands mutilated. With the assistance and urging of Dutch traders he managed to escape and sail to France. Later Jogues returned to Mohawk territory to help negotiate peace between the natives and the French. Not long after his return he and fellow Jesuit Jean de Lalande were captured and martyred by the people they wanted so badly to help.

In the gospel for today we read about the seventy others sent out in pairs to share the good news. They had a slightly easier mission than Jogues and his counterparts. They at least knew the culture and had a common language to use thanks to the Greeks. The seventy did have to contend with a violent world and a message that was contrary to the beliefs of the people they engaged.

The seventy are told they were going out as lambs among wolves along with a list of do's and don'ts. Now doesn't that sound like a parent speaking to a child? Especially a child that just received their drivers license or is traveling without the family for the first time. Aside from the appearance of fatherly advice, they were to travel light not to stop along the way to exchange customary lengthy greetings. When they find a friendly town they are to stay in one house don't waste time moving from house to house in the town. Their mission was urgent. There was a lot of territory to cover. Today there still is a lot of territory to cover the workers are few and the harvest is plentiful.

It was very important to say, "Peace to this house", before entering a home where they were invited to stay. It is like saying, "God be with you." The invocation is not a trivial matter; the blessing of God's presence can enter or depart the home depending on the owners' heart. If the disciples are welcomed, it is as if their hosts have welcomed God himself; if not, then the blessing retreats from the home. Indeed the entire town was blessed and the truth of God's grace through Jesus was demonstrated in the miracles of healing the disciples performed in the town.

Just as important is what they are to do when not welcomed by a town. Stand in the street and wipe the dust from their feet. If they are not welcome then this was a show that the town stands alone in the judgment of God. They have turned away God's messengers so they are separated and alone. "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

There is a spiritual battle afoot in the Untied States today. The harvest is plentiful and the fruit is ripe and the workers are few. I can say that for two reasons. There are forces at work trying to marginalize if not remove the influence of Christianity in this country. We hear and read about the challenges in the courts nearly every week. What we do not hear about is the number of missionaries coming to America because outside this country many see the United States as a place of mission opportunities. There are missionaries from all points coming here to join with those of us already at work.

In this reading we have reassurance in our mission and direction in how to carry it out. We may be sent out among wolves but fortunately for us we may only be ignored or receive harsh words. We may not face physical attack but in the words of our attackers we may fall prey to untruths. We may fall prey to pride as the disciples boosting about the demons they drove out. We must travel light and with some urgency making introductions to Jesus Christ and accepting hospitality where given and moving on where unwelcome. It is not our choice who the Holy Spirit converts so we must move on to the next person.

As the disciples we are lambs cared for by the Shepherd. We are bought at a price in blood and marked as His at baptism. The only fear in sharing the Good News is the fear we create in ourselves. Jesus stands beside us and shelters us so that we can share the message of salvation through Him. Don't fear the opportunity to share embrace it as the disciples, the early explorers, and as the missionaries of our time.

In the Name of Our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.