Rewards of Welcome
Here are some thoughts on Sunday's gospel. This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Bemus Point, NY.
Yesterday, when
Ray and I were reading from 30-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the
book we’re reading for our Adult Study session, I came across these words that
hit me like a ton of bricks. See what they say to you regarding this gospel
passage. “The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless
people, from everyday Christian life in community…may actually mean the
exclusion of Christ; for in the poor sister or brother, Christ is knocking at
the door.”
Gospel: Matthew 10:40-42
[Jesus said to the twelve:] 40“Whoever welcomes
you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever
welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward;
and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will
receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup
of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I
tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”
Yesterday, when
Ray and I were reading from 30-Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the
book we’re reading for our Adult Study session, I came across these words that
hit me like a ton of bricks. See what they say to you regarding this gospel
passage. “The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless
people, from everyday Christian life in community…may actually mean the
exclusion of Christ; for in the poor sister or brother, Christ is knocking at
the door.”
Jesus is still
speaking to his disciples before he sends them out to proclaim the good news.
Rather than the emphasis being on all the awful things they may encounter, as
it was earlier in chapter 10, Jesus is talking about the rewards one will
receive who welcomes one of God’s messengers. In fact, it’s like the person has
welcomed Christ and God the Father.
We don’t know
exactly what the rewards will be, except that they will be in the future. And
who are the “little ones?” I suspect they are those that others might ignore
because of their lack of status in this world, and yet they are messengers of
God and God rewards anyone who tends to their needs. I cannot help but think of
Matthew 25:31-46, the judgment of the nations. Jesus says, “I was thirsty and you gave me something
to drink…Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who
are members of my family, you did it to me” (vv. 35, 40).
We, as God’s church,
are the ones being sent into the world, but we are simultaneously those who are
being asked to receive the little, insignificant ones who are also messengers
of God. It works both ways.
Lord, open our eyes
to those around us, those you send to us. Make us welcoming and generous in our
dealings with all God’s children. Amen.
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