cannot let the despair of the immediate moment drag him down.
Cain must move on with his life. There will be other offerings, other opportunities for acceptance.
If Cain does not master the murderous rage he feels toward Abel, the wrath he inflicts will come
back to haunt him and destroy his own life. God tells Cain to master his desire to kill his brother.
Of course we know that Cain does not listen to God. Cain clings to his rejection and murders
his brother. Then God banishes Cain from the land he has worked all his days. No longer will he
harvest the fruit of his labor.
The instruction God gives to Cain is similar to that which Jesus gives the disciples. Jesus speaks
to the Twelve about acceptance and rejection. Jesus calls the disciples and commissions them for their
mission. The instruction he gives these few laborers of his harvest includes the following guidance:
Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it
is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house,
greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it;
but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone
will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the
dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
(Matthew 10:11-14)
The disciples will be accepted or rejected. If they are made to feel welcome, they are to remain
in that house as long as they minister in that town or village. If they are refused, they are not to press
themselves. They are not to belabor their desire to be there. They are to leave, and they are not to let a
speck of dust travel with them on their departure. They are to pick up and go, immediately.
Jesus uses rich language to describe the encounter disciples will have with potential hosts. Jesus
speaks of extending one’s peace upon the house. Peace, in today’s gospel lesson, is defined as well-
being. This is the opposite of Cain’s countenance. Instead of bearing ill-will, the disciples are to extend
well-being, peace.
If, after making such a gesture, the well-being is refused, the disciples will have the well-being
returned to them. Like a boomerang that circles back if it is not intercepted, the disciples will have their
peace restored to them.
Thus it is important that they go to the towns and villages in the spirit of peace. That which they
bring may be returned to them. They will benefit more from receiving back well-being -- peace --
rather than ill-will.
In some places, the disciples will be accepted. Other times they will be rejected. The disciples
are not able to control the reception they receive. They are able to choose what they will offer.
Cain chooses to bring death to his brother, Abel. Because of that choice, hardship follows Cain
the remainder of his days.
Jesus encourages the disciples to travel with peace. If they travel with peace, regardless of
whether they are extended hospitality or denied a gracious reception, they will have peace in either
situation. Their peace will be returned to them.
The disciples may have their lives made miserable by others, or they may live in such a way that
the people they encounter will not ruin them. The disciples have the freedom to choose how to posture
themselves in relationship to others.
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