The sending

After John 17:18

As you have sent

me, I have sent

them. The Luther’s

Short Catechism would

now ask, “What does this

mean?” To be chosen

and named:

to be sent

into the dark place, 

the dark places, places

filled with sin and misery

and anger and hatred;

to be sent to touch,

to reach, to talk, to love,

to live a life that shines

with the light of love;

to be sent to be accepted

by some, to be rejected

by most, to hear one’s words

twisted and locked,

to be ridiculed;

to be sent to be beaten.

to be spat upon, to be hit

and struck, to be killed;

to be sent to rise and

to live, to be raised 

to eternity, to make

the Word known.

Photograph by Eran Menashri via Unsplash. Used with permission.