This is the homily that Bishop Alan Scarfe, a GEMN Board member, preached at Morning Prayer on April 16 during the Missio 2026 conference. The scripture text was Luke 10:1-9, the story of Jesus sending 70 disciples out in pairs to preach and heal.
I will make three passes through this familiar passage from Luke in which Jesus expands his missionary team, and in so doing, I offer three levels of reflection.
First, Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him as a preparatory team. Their purpose is to prepare the way. They go as “lambs among wolves,” so it is a treacherous endeavor. They are to have no safeguards – “Take nothing for your journey, no staff nor bag, no bread nor money, not even an extra tunic.” In fact, they must be dependent on the ones to whom they are sent, on others to receive them.
Their work is the work of the Kingdom – offering its signs and exciting an appetite for what is to come. If they are not accepted, they are not to waste their time trying to persuade, but to press on to where they receive a welcome. In other words, work with the willing. Above all, be confident: find your courage and fulfilment from the certainty of the kingdom’s message. And we note that all this is preparatory work for Jesus to come.
Second, we note that in all of these things, we are sent together. We are sent to prepare. We are not to fret over or to seek to force the outcome. We simply set things up for Jesus. It is he who brings the Kingdom. Our sending is in itself an act of faith on God’s part. It is not about us. We bring peace – or to use Eric Law’s well-known phrase – we create the grace margin to get Jesus a hearing.
Thirdly, and in more practical terms, we need each other to fulfil this mission. I think of Gordon Cosby of the Church of the Savior in D.C., who, whenever approached by a congregant with a ministry idea, would ask “Does anyone else share your vision or idea?” If the answer was no, or not yet, he would send them away and tell them to come back once they had found someone to work with. There’s no room for the lone ranger. Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs.
I often think bishops should work in pairs, but who could afford them?! My most memorable experiences in episcopacy have been when sharing a moment with another bishop – whether it was a shared confirmation with the local Lutheran bishop, or pastoring a tornado- and flood-stricken community with the local Methodist bishop, or carrying out a healing mission in Iowa with our Swaziland companion bishop and our wives.
So, find fellow workers, find fellowship. And don’t assume that means a fellow USAmerican or Episcopalian. Note, for example, that God has workers already in South Sudan. If God sends you there, its because you need colleagues in mission. Not necessarily the other way round.
Finally, we return to the main purpose: We are always preparing the way for Jesus to come. This requires us to concentrate on social engagement; mindfulness in being attentive to others, asking who is around; the ability to step out of ourselves or our own space; to enjoy, to love, to connect with others; to listen and learn ; to bring peace; and do some kingdom signs – the kind of things Jesus will do once he arrives.
When all is ready, Jesus will come, and receive as he is received, and send all over again.
