It’s trivia time.
First of all, a story –
I attended THE Central Michigan University as an undergrad (Fire Up, Chips!). Part of the college experience was attending FOR FREE the football games each fall. Our team was pretty good, but the marching band was better. The band’s pregame ritual began with the band marching at a walking pace onto the field to a simple drumbeat. We in the stands helped out by chanting a refrain from “The Wizard of Oz.”
The chant is from a scene in the movie when Dorothy and the gang sneak into the Wicked Witch’s castle by joining in with the soldiers. As they enter, the soldiers chant, “OO – weee – OO, oh-WEEE-oh!” The student section would join in as the procession began.
It wasn’t until years later that I found out what the soldiers were chanting.
So here is the trivia question: what are the soldiers saying?
I will give you the answer in a bit!
In the Gospel lesson above, Jesus gives his disciples some pretty tough marching orders. They are called to fall in line, and they are told the work is not going to be easy.
But it’s worth it. Because we know the rest of the story, that Jesus is the one who saves, who promises us life, hope and forgiveness, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
And here is the good news – when we, as followers of Jesus, fall short or fall out of step, there is the promise that we are always God’s beloved. We belong to God.
So back to the trivia question of the day. What are the soldiers saying?
Bonus trivia – it is known as the March of the Winkies!
While we are not called to join in the March of the Winkies, we ARE called to follow in the march that Jesus leads. We are called to be disciples, followers of Jesus. We do so NOT to earn God’s favor, but rather in response to what God has done for us.
All we are, we owe to God – all that we have and all that we are.
What is the march God is calling for you to join? What instrument do you play?
Join us, for we are marching in the light of God! All we are, we owe God!
Let us pray:
Matthew 10:5-23
The Mission of the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 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. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Coming Persecutions
