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Last week I was speaking about the proclamation given by Christ to his disciples, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And I said that Christ did not come to start a religion called “Christianity” but that he came to found a new kingdom here upon earth: the Kingdom of God.I spoke a little about what it means to be part of that kingdom: namely, that it is to be formed into a people who have God for their king, who are obedient to God, and who call others to be gathered in to this kingdom.I’d like to continue with this theme of what it means to be citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Our gospel reading is simply a continuation of Christ’s charge to the twelve apostles.Persecution will comeSadly the lectionary misses out an important section with a memorable line. Christ warns his disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” This changes the picture from labourers sent out into the harvest field. The world we are sent into is not passive or ambivalent about the message of the kingdom. It is often hostile to it, even intensely so. And this makes sense because the world outside of the kingdom has other loyalties, other standards, or, as St Augustine would put it, other loves.Notice the words of Christ, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master…If they have called the master of the household Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household.”Translation: they called Jesus the Devil. He is the master and we are his servants. If they called him the devil (and, indeed, if they crucified him) what will they do to us?Again, Christ says, “Do not fear those who kill the body…” Meaning, of course, that they may kill the body. And the history of the Christian Church is soaked red with the blood of the martyrs. Christ spoke truly.Christ also says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.” Christ does not mean that he has not come to bring his followers peace. He has promised to us the peace of God, which is a peace that the world cannot give. This saying is given specifically in the context of hostile relationships: son against father, daughter against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.And the crisis point is Christ himself: “whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” He speaks here of ultimate loyalty: there must be nothing above loyalty to Christ, even the loyalty we owe to members of our own family.We must here confront an error that creeps into the public witness of the church from time to time. Some of you may have heard the following statement from a high-profile Christian figure: “Conflict is always a sign of failure.” Now, of course, there was a context to that remark, but it is an absolute statement. And, as an absolute statement, it cannot be reconciled with the words of Christ or with the witness of Christian history: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth.” Again, Christ says elsewhere, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”“So have no fear of them…”Persecution will come, but have no fear of them, says Christ. And why not? There are several reasons given by the Master:Firstly, there is coming a time when all the secrets of human history will be revealed. No injustice will remain hidden. No lie will not be exposed. The tyrants and persecutors of this age will face the judgement of God. “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”I take this to mean that Christians, as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven where nothing is covered or hidden, are to expose the darkness and wickedness of this age now through candid speech and righteous action. As the Apostle Paul says elsewhere, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Eph. 5:11)Secondly, there is only so much that can be taken from us by persecution. Already quoted: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” T