Sermon: The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon for July 6, 2025

Pentecost 4, Proper 9

Luke’s Gospel 10:1-11, 16-20

Barbara Marshall

Focus: Jesus is Good News for the world to hear.

In Luke’s Gospel reading this morning, we learned Jesus sent out seventy individuals to spread the Good News of Jesus. There is a variant in some sources that state there were seventy-two sent out. According to Jewish tradition in Genesis Chapter 10, there were 70 grandsons of Noah, each one becoming a nation of the world. The Septuagint, a Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, was completed by seventy-two Jewish Scholars. Either way, people were being sent out to bring the Good News to every nation of the world. The message of Jesus was and is meant for all to hear.

Jesus appointed his followers and sent them out, two-by-two, to go into every town and place where he was about to go. They were to take nothing with them. Nothing! Jesus said to them, "Go!" Then he went on to say, "Do not even take a purse, or a bag, or a pair of sandals."

Now, why did Jesus say that? Perhaps, it was because when Jesus sent

His disciples on a mission, their success or failure did not depend upon what they brought with them -- it depended on Him! One reason we can be pretty certain of that is because of something else Jesus told the disciples when he sent them out. "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me."

Using our time and talents, Jesus wants all of us to share the Good News that the kingdom of God is near. The results do not depend upon us. We should not become puffed up when people receive the message and we should not be discouraged when they reject the message. We should just go and tell the story as if everything depends on Jesus. And it does!

I found a humorous story to help us focus on how to share the Good News.

A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

It is an interesting concept to draw God. What does God look like? Can we know anything of what God’s image is by looking at Christ? The story reveals that Christ should be visible, within in each of us, or that we all resemble Christ in God, even if we’re not sure what God looks like. Hmmmm! Food for thought no doubt! I don’t know about you, but I like the simpler thoughts of children.

There are a group of doctors, nurses, lab technicians, therapists and medical and nursing students who put in full days — and nights — at Boston hospitals. But come Tuesday night, they head to a downtown church to engage in another work of healing. Music! They refer to themselves as the Longwood Chorus.

They are a 70-voice choir made up of health care professionals working in Boston’s world-class hospitals in the Longwood section of the city. The Longwood Chorus is one of the few vocal ensembles of its kind in the world, composed entirely of medical and science-related professionals.

The chorus was founded in 2017 by two Harvard Medical School students. The original mission was to reduce burn-out and promote wellness among those in high-stress medical professions — but the chorus’ critically acclaimed performances bring some of the world’s greatest musical works to New England audiences.

Jeremy Faust is an attending emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. He’s also an accomplished musician, composer and conductor. Faust serves as Longwood’s music director.

Faust stated, “Choral music in general is such a beautiful art form to be a part of, and it is such a special part of many peoples’ lives for those who do it. But to be able to combine that with people who you also share professional interests with is just a really remarkable and amazing opportunity.”

The chorus performs two major concerts a year: at the end of fall and spring semesters. Recent performances have included Benjamin Britton’s A Ceremony of Carols. Throughout the year, singers also participate in smaller, community-centered events, such as seasonal caroling around Boston or small concerts in hospital lobbies.

Members of the Longwood Chorus see their music as not just a respite from their hectic careers but as an extension of their professions. Iris Chan, an assistant music director and a medical student at Tufts University explains, “Music is not just about me making music. It is about how it affects other people’s moods. And there’s so much to music that can affect people’s happiness. I think that is something we can bring, as a choir, to other people too.”

On Sunday, October 19th, a very special musical extravaganza will be held right here at St. Patrick’s. The event is being put together by Karen Burke and Paul LeClair. Many of you know that Karen also plays music at a church called Holy City which is located in Royal Oak. Holy City members will also be involved in the extravaganza. Karen has recently become an active member of Holy City. She also maintains a connection with The First Congregational Church in Royal Oak. A few of their members will also be involved with the concert. Karen told me it is, “Three churches coming together as one!

There will be a variety of music including Christian based, Jazz, and with even some Beatles music and well as other types of music. It will be top quality for sure. Karen played a version of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” on Sunday, June 22nd. She received a standing ovation for her outstanding performance put forth with much love and belief in God.

You are all invited to the upcoming musical extravaganza. There will be a freewill offering to be divided between Holy City and St. Patrick’s to be used as each church reaches out to share the Good News of Christ. You are encouraged to invite your families, friends, and neighbors to join us Sunday, October 19th at 4 P.M. Light refreshments will also be served.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends forth the seventy-two to go ahead of him and make ready for his coming. They are to be Jesus’ agents for healing and reconciliation by their humble generosity and compassion. And Jesus promises that they will make a difference in people’s lives — and their work will make a difference in their own lives, as well.

In the music performed by the dedicated medical professionals of the Longwood Chorus and our upcoming Musical Extravaganza, the reconciling peace of God will be in the midst — both for their audiences and for each other.

We too, as individuals or in groups can be the means for revealing God’s peace in our midst by the simple “music” of the offerings of our own skills and talents to those we travel with on the road to God’s dwelling place. Sharing the message of Jesus with our actions and words, w can bring hope and inspiration to others.

Let us Pray!

Lord we ask for your guidance as we incorporate acts of kindness, artistic expression and gratitude into our daily lives. Inspire us to share messages of the Good News with those we encounter and to faithfully demonstrate love to all. Amen!

Resources for this Sermon

• Connection for Sunday, July 6,2025

• Lectionary Levity by Markham and Gottlich, pages 230-231

• Episcopal Sermons that Work, author unknown

• Information provided by Karen Burke

• Forward Day by Day for July 1, 2025