No Homeland

Gospel: Matthew 10: 16-23

Today's Gospel portion reminds us of the context of the writing of this Gospel.  Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed; Judaism had to reorganize around the rabbis and synagogues; and Christians were expelled from membership.  This now meant that Christians were no longer exempt from the imperial requirement of tribute to Caesar as a God.  So now Christians find themselves persecuted both from their religious homeland and from the secular one in which they live.

Within this setting the Gospel text provides us with a roadmap through this world.  Do not worry about it.  Our homeland is in heaven.  There alone is our consolation and hope.  The love we are to bear to others will sustain us through this world where we find no welcome, no solace.  We cannot expect - and we ought not to seek - the consolation of religious and secular powers.

What does this mean for us today? We are tempted by political ideologies that promise power and protection for Christians.  It is a siren song that leads to destruction.  We are tempted to religious ideologies where security is promised in a false notion of tradition and legalism - another siren song that is a path to ruin.  The only way is the way of the Lord Jesus - the way of love, the way of the Beatitudes.