(2Tm.4:9-17; Ps.145:10-13,17-18; Lk.10:1-9) "The Lord stood by my side and gave me strength, so that through me the preaching task might be completed and all the nations might hear the Gospel." As I read of Jesus' instruction to the disciples as He "sent them in pairs before Him to every town and place He intended to visit," and particularly His words to them to "eat what they set before you," I am reminded of the command given Peter in his dream to "take and eat" of the unclean animals (Acts 10:13), this just before the first Gentile converts came to him seeking the Word of God. And, of course, similar terminology is present in Jesus' sending his workers as if into a harvest: in this case, the Lord shall eat of the feast the disciples are sent forth to prepare. We know our work is our food, that the labor the Lord imparts to us serves as our daily bread. And we know that the wheat that becomes His precious Body and the Word that is cultivated by His apostles, by His preachers and prophets, is the food that sustains us, that strengthens us for our daily tasks. All we do must be blessed by Him and be, as it were, a "discourse of the glory of [His] kingdom," and His kingdom, which is "a kingdom for all ages," and His dominion, which "endures through all generations," shall become known in our midst. It is not easy to eat of this food, to drink of this cup. We see how alone Paul finds himself in our first reading. "Everyone abandoned me," he declares in reference to his trial before the courts of this world. He pleads with Timothy to join him soon, for many have left his side: "I have no one with me but Luke." Indeed, he has nothing but the Word of God. And most apparent in the Lord's instruction to His disciples is the utter reliance on God we must find. Impoverished He sends them forth, dependent only on their preaching and healing to feed themselves. Yes, He sends them forth "as lambs in the midst of wolves." Not a happy prospect. But they have the Word of the Lord to make them strong and protect them from all evil of this world, and nothing could be more sure than this. Into so many homes Luke's gospel has come, bringing its peace to all who abide in the Lord. The proclamation by this great evangelist that "the reign of God is at hand" comes to our hearts even this day. Let us make room for this Word within ourselves and it shall feed us on our journey to the kingdom, and by its grace we shall complete our work on this earth. May the word of the Lord go ever forth. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, send forth your laborers to declare the glory of your kingdom to all nations. YHWH, send forth workers into your harvest, that all might hear your Word preached to their souls and find your peace in their hearts. Your reign be upon us this day. O LORD, your kingdom endures through all generations; to your glory there is no end. O let us share in your holiness, let us share in your glory! and let us share your glory with all souls on the face of this earth. Though we must stand alone as has Paul, though we might be rejected by those to whom we come, yet let us be faithful to your Word and with great strength and confidence accomplish your will. You are our strength, O LORD, and you are our peace; send us forth in your Name to preach and to heal. Let your kingdom come into our midst through your blessed disciples, who speak only of your glory, who find refuge in your might. Nothing do we need if we have you, LORD. Please stand at our side.