There’s something wonderfully uplifting about having good news to share, isn’t there? A couple of weeks ago, my daughter Naomi rang me unexpectedly to share the good news that she has passed her degree, with excellent results! Of course, I was delighted to hear this and celebrated with her. But the news left me with a dilemma. Had Naomi told her mother yet, I asked? No, she hadn’t. Would Naomi like me to pass on the news then, or would she like to tell her mother herself? Of course, Naomi wanted to share her news herself. After all, it was her story to tell, her achievement to enjoy. What a privilege it is to have good news to share! But what a weight of responsibility it places on us, to ensure that we share it in the right way.
My little dilemma might prompt us to think about the nature of news itself. In today’s massively connected, always online world, news seems to have lost much of its shine. Not so long ago, we had to wait for the morning or evening papers, or at least the next radio or TV news bulletin to learn about important events in the world. The stories were carefully curated for us by news editors. Nowadays, we can call forth a flood of headlines, updates, and breaking stories from every corner of the globe with just a mouse button click or a tap on a phone screen. This torrent of news can overwhelm us more than it informs us. I believe that little of the information that passes over our screens truly merits our attention, even after we’ve skipped the “fake news” that increasingly degrades it. The glut of information makes genuine news stories that really are relevant to us seem like rare gems buried under mountains of rubble.
Indeed, not all news has equal value. But some news rises above the trivial to speak about ultimate matters! That brings us to our gospel reading for this week, Luke 10:1-20. In this passage, Jesus sends seventy disciples out in pairs to proclaim that “The kingdom of God has come near to you,” urging them to travel lightly and make haste. These disciples weren’t just delivering ordinary news. They had the urgent task of preparing the people for the arrival of Jesus, their true King. The disciples were to authenticate their proclamation by curing illnesses, proving that their message wasn’t “fake news,” but the ultimate good news: the promise of salvation, restoration, and the coming of God’s reign in Jesus. The choice of whether to welcome this news or reject it would be decisive for those who heard it.
As Christians today, we are entrusted with the precious news about our Lord Jesus too. Let’s never lose sight of how valuable it is. Whether shared in a quiet chat with a neighbour, preached from a pulpit, or revealed in small, loving actions, this news – the Gospel – has the power to change lives for the better, forever. Sharing it is so much more than passing along information. It is offering hope, peace and the promise of renewal, playing our parts in a story far bigger than ourselves. What a blessing to be God’s messengers, carrying this news that matters far above all else!
So, friends, let’s not shrink from our task. Next time you pause to consider whether to share some good news, be reminded of this: the news of God’s kingdom – the good news about Jesus our King – is always worth sharing. It’s the news that changes everything. What a privilege we have, to be its heralds.
Matthew Briggs
Ministry Team