(Is.66:10-14c; Ps.66:1-7,16,20; Gal.6:14-18; Lk.10:1-12,17-20) "The Lord's power shall be known to His servants." Paul states: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus instructs: "Rejoice because your names are written in heaven." The bottom line is that "the laborer deserves his payment." The prosperity of Jerusalem shall flow "like a river" over those who work as laborers in the field of the Word of God: "peace and mercy" shall be to the "Israel of God." All "who were mourning over her," all who have suffered the indignity of the cross in this exile of ours, shall indeed rejoice as they "suck fully of the milk of her comfort" in the heavenly kingdom which the Lord brings to us this day. Indeed, "let us rejoice in Him. He rules by His might forever." And we share in His reign who serve Him now beneath the shadow of the cross. Satan falls now "like lightning from the sky"; we "tread upon serpents and scorpions," crushing them underfoot by the power the Lord gives us as we tread this earth in His Name. Sent forth with nothing, we have everything, for He is with us who provides from the throne of heaven. "As nurslings" we are carried in the arms of the New Jerusalem "and fondled in her lap." "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you," the Lord assures us; and indeed in the cross we bear, "the marks of Jesus" on our bodies, we find the open gate that leads to the house of peace: the wounds themselves are the doorway. "The kingdom of God is at hand for you," my brothers and sisters. I proclaim it in your hearing this day. "Peace" and the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters." Peace be to your house. You shall know His peace and find His healing as you accept His sweet cross upon your backs. "When you see this, your heart shall rejoice and your bodies flourish like the grass"; for in that day you shall be a "new creation." You will say with Paul, "The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world," and you will make your abode in heaven. That day is upon you now, brothers and sisters. Heed the Lord's call to go forth as lambs in the midst of wolves, and you shall find His incomparable blessing of the peace which passes all understanding – you shall come into His kingdom. "Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what He has done for me." For me "He has changed the sea into dry land" and by the blood of His cross cleansed these feet to which the dust did once cling, that I might enter heaven. Walk now in His power, I beg you, children of the Lord. "The harvest is abundant." Let us go forth laboring and eating of this Bread. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder" from Listening to the Lamp, ninth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, may your Spirit guide us on the road to the Cross. YHWH, how shall we be fit for your kingdom? How shall we give ourselves as we must to your will? Help us to leave all behind and never turn back to it. Help us to follow your Son even to the Cross. For if you do not help us, we shall falter on the way. Without your grace we shall not have the light and strength we need. O LORD, our spirit is willing to follow you, but how weak is our flesh. How concerned we are about the things of this earth! And so your Son must be severe with us, for how else shall we break the yoke of slavery to sin? Without His sharp Word we would linger in complacency all our days. O let the ties that bind us to this world be cut and we be free to walk with Jesus in utter service and love! May the fire of your Spirit be upon us to burn away all attachment to sin. Be our sole refuge, dear God, that no corruption we shall know but remain at your right hand forever.