LESSON 15 – REJOICE
REJOICE
What I am sharing with you today was a sermon I listened to on July 6th from Father Enzo in New York regarding Luke 10:1-9. I was so fascinated by his sermon that I wrote down every word in order that I could share it with you. Father Enzo looks like an opera singer and has a commanding voice. The following is his sermon. I hope you enjoy it.
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Rejoice in Jerusalem. This is how Isaiah today opens the first reading, rejoice, be glad, exalt, but this isn’t shallow or sentimental joy. It’s not joy because everything is smooth, it’s easy, it’s perfect. It’s joy because God is present. God is faithful, and we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
In the Gospel, in fact, Jesus sends seventy-two disciples, ordinary people, no titles, no degrees, no guarantees. And what does he say? He doesn’t say good luck, or you’ll do great, but something deeper. I’m sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sandals. Say peace to this household. It’s not a glamorous mission. But, when the seventy-two return, they’re overflowing with joy. Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. And Jesus affirms them, but at the same time, he directs their focus.
Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Their joy is not about power and success, it’s the joy of belonging. It’s the joy of being sent by Jesus. It’s the joy of being a part of the Kingdom, no matter if you’re rejected or received. And St Paul the apostle expresses this very well. In fact, he says, “I may never boast except in the cross of Jesus Christ, the Lord.” It’s a radical statement. He is saying the thing the world considers weak, shameful, even cursed. That is my glory. That is my joy. But why? Because the cross is not just a symbol of suffering. It’s actually the doorway of salvation. Paul’s joy is not in the results, in reputation, in religious pride, a temptation that often our society falls into, and sometimes even the church. Paul’s joy is in the fact that he belongs to Christ, and Christ has claimed him through the cross.
So why should we rejoice today? Let’s be honest. Sometimes we don’t feel like rejoicing. Sometimes life is hard. The mission even feels heavy, and Jesus says the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. Sometimes the results even are invisible or disappointing, but here’s the good news. We don’t rejoice because of the outcome. That’s the way of the world to think. We rejoice because we are included. We rejoice because God has chosen us to be a part of his plan just the way we are. We rejoice because we have been saved by the cross, not by our own performances. We rejoice because our names are written in heaven, not as a future hope, but as a present truth. And we rejoice because we are part of the mission even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard.
So, Brothers and Sisters, rejoice if you’ve been rejected or ignored because Jesus was too. If you feel unqualified, rejoice because for God, we are not just disposable things, but we are precious, so precious that he gave his life for us. That’s why our names are written in heaven.
If you’ve given your life to Christ’s mission, rejoice because you’re walking with the Savior of the world. The joy of the gospel is not naïve. It’s rooted in the cross, but because it’s rooted in the cross, it cannot be shaken. So may we too, with Paul the apostle, boast only in the cross. May we rejoice that we are his, we belong to him, and may we live this mission, not for success, but for love. Amen.
I am so pleased that I was able to hear this sermon from Father Enzo. Biblestudiesforbeginners.com is almost 8 months old, and I must admit that I was thinking like the world thinks, in the flesh! Is my ministry being successful? Several hundred people have been to the website, but only twenty-four people have subscribed. And out of the twenty-four, about a third of them read the bible study lessons. It takes me a lot of time to publish a lesson. I was thinking, is it worth the effort? Am I wasting my time?
Shame on me for thinking like the way of the world. It’s easy to slip from the spirit to the flesh, isn’t it? I was looking at the result instead of the fact that God chose me to do this to help spread the good word. Yes, I rejoice because God has chosen me to be a part of his plan. Yes, I rejoice because I am a part of the mission to spread the Gospel throughout the world. So, I thank God, Jesus and Father Enzo for setting me straight on this. Bible Studies for Beginners will continue as long as I am able to put forth a good effort to study and explain the word. I am very happy, and I thank all of you who have taken the time to visit the website. I pray that God keeps our eyes open on the prize of eternal life, and each of us reflect upon what is truly important in this life, for what we do in this life will bring forth what lies for us in eternal life.
Until next time, may peace, love and joy be with you always.