Encountering Christ Through Others

Sometimes the greatest acts of faith are not dramatic miracles or grand achievements. Sometimes they are simple acts of welcome, hospitality, and kindness.

THAT is exactly what Jesus speaks about in today’s Gospel, Matthew 10:40-42.

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SPEAKER_00 0:28

Welcome, brothers and sisters, and peace be with you. May the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen. A few years ago I was running the marathon in the beautiful historic Italian city of Bologna, and it was hot. I mean very hot. Towards the end of the run our little group decided that we would run the shady sections and walk those parts that were in the sun. About two kilometers from the finish we encountered a group of spectators who were handing out cups of cold water to the runners. A young woman stepped forward, offered me a cup, waited until I had drunk the water, and then took the cup and disappeared back into the crowd. I had never seen her before, I have never seen her since. I will never forget her, because in that moment of my personal struggle, she became the face of God's love for me. Sometimes the greatest acts of faith are not dramatic miracles or grand achievements. Sometimes they are simple acts of welcome, hospitality and kindness. That is exactly what Jesus speaks about in today's gospel Matthew chapter ten verses forty to forty two. The disciples are about to set out on mission. They will travel from village to village, carrying the good news of the kingdom. Some people will reject them. Others will welcome them. And Jesus says, Whoever welcomes you welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. In other words, how we receive God's people is how we receive God Himself. This truth reminds us that Christ identifies himself with his followers. Then and now we, the disciples, are not merely messengers carrying a message, we carry the presence of Christ with us. So when people welcome us, they welcome Jesus. Throughout history, believers have understood that Christ is present in his people. Every person created in God's image carries a dignity that deserves honor and respect. This means that every encounter becomes sacred. The visitor at the door, the newcomer in town, the neighbour who seems lonely, the child seeking attention, the elderly person who longs for conversation, the stranger needing assistance. Each one offers us an opportunity to welcome Christ. And Jesus continues by speaking about prophets and righteous people. He says that those who receive a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward. At first this sounds quite strange. What exactly is a prophet's reward? A prophet's reward is participation in God's work. When we support those who serve God, we become partners in that ministry. You know, most Christians will never preach a sermon, travel as missionaries, or write theological books. Yet through their encouragement, hospitality, prayers, and generosity, they share in the work of the gospel. Think about the countless faithful who quietly support ministries around the world, the volunteers who prepare worship, the people who visit the sick, the folks who maintain buildings and gardens, the families who offer meals and friendship, the individuals who pray faithfully every day. Their contributions may seem small, but in God's kingdom they are significant. And that is why Jesus concludes with what is for me an image of extraordinary simplicity. Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones will not lose their reward. A cup of cold water not a fortune, not a great sacrifice, not a heroic deed, just a simple act of kindness. In the hot climate of first century Palestine or on the baking cobblestones of twenty first century Bologna, a cup of cold water was refreshing and valuable. Yet it was something almost anyone could offer. Jesus is teaching us here that God notices the small things. Our culture often celebrates spectacular achievements. We admire famous leaders, successful entrepreneurs, talented athletes, World Cup soccer players, and influential public figures. We tend to think that significance belongs to those who do great things. But Jesus he measures greatness differently. A kind word a listening ear a welcoming smile a meal shared with someone in need a visit to a person who is lonely a prayer offered for another a cup of cold water. These acts will probably never appear in headlines, but they matter deeply to God. Many of us underestimate the influence that we have on others. We may not remember every sermon we have heard or every lesson we have been taught, but we often remember the people who showed us kindness. Many people first encountered Christ, not through an argument or a book, but through the compassion of a Christian. They experienced Christ in someone who cared, someone who listened, someone who welcomed them, someone who gave them a cup of cold water. Through ordinary acts of mercy, grace, care, concern, help, the extraordinary love of Jesus Christ is revealed. What if the gospel invitation today is simply this? Become a person of welcome. Welcome others as Christ has welcomed you. See Christ in those that you meet. Offer kindness without expecting anything in return. Look for opportunities to give your own cup of cold water because whenever we do, Jesus says we are serving him. And when whenever we welcome another person with Christ like love, we are participating in the life of God Himself. So let us always remember that we have first been welcomed by God. We who were strangers have been invited into God's family through Christ. Having received such grace, let us go and extend that grace to others. May our homes be places of welcome. May our faith communities be places of welcome. May our lives be places where others encounter Christ. And may we never ever underestimate the power of even the smallest act of love that is offered in Jesus' name. Irunga Itengoa Oteatua Tematua Tetama Metewaru tapu Amine.