A story said to originate in a Russian Orthodox monastery has an older monk telling a younger one: “I have finally learned to accept people as they are. Whatever they are in the world, a prostitute, a prime minister it is all the same to me. But sometimes I see a stranger coming up the road and I say, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ, it is you again?’”
Kathleen Norris
Kathleen Norris
Imaging the Word An Arts and Lectionary Resource, Volume 2
Exploring the Text: The blessings of hospitality
As Jesus wraps up his instructions to the disciples, he changes direction. In the previous verses, he talked about handling persecutions and conflict. Now he talks about being welcomed and sharing rewards. I see four primary takeaways from this passage.
When Jesus changes topics from talking about persecution to rewards for hospitality, it reminds us that we can get so focused on the negative that we forget the positive. We see obstacles, challenges, and problems, but we don't always see the positive things as well. Jesus' disciples wouldn't just meet opposition on their way, they would also meet hospitality and welcome. In the same way, we will meet obstacles and challenges, but there will also be blessings. We need to be careful that we don't get so caught up in the bad that we miss the good.
The second thing we need to see is that God frequently connects with us through other people. Jesus says that when the disciples are welcomed by others, they welcome Jesus as well and when they welcome Jesus they welcome the Father. When people would connect with the disciples, they are connecting with God. God often connects with us through other people and when we welcome people, we welcome God as well (Hebrews 13:2)
The third thing we need to see is the reverse of the second. When we cut ourselves off from people, we cut ourselves off from one of the main ways God blesses us. Jesus says that if welcome a prophet we receive a prophet's rewards and if we welcome a righteous man, we receive a righteous man's reward. When we welcome people with hospitality, we open ourselves up to God's blessings, but when we shut ourselves off from people, we cut ourselves off from those blessings.
Finally, we see that when we limit our generosity, we limit God's blessings in our lives. Jesus says that anyone who gives a cup of water in Jesus' name will receive a reward. God rewards out generosity towards others and when we limit our generosity, we limit those blessings from God.
When we are hospitable, when we welcome others with generosity, we open the door to deeper connection with God and we open the door to God's blessings.
David Dalton
As Jesus wraps up his instructions to the disciples, he changes direction. In the previous verses, he talked about handling persecutions and conflict. Now he talks about being welcomed and sharing rewards. I see four primary takeaways from this passage.
When Jesus changes topics from talking about persecution to rewards for hospitality, it reminds us that we can get so focused on the negative that we forget the positive. We see obstacles, challenges, and problems, but we don't always see the positive things as well. Jesus' disciples wouldn't just meet opposition on their way, they would also meet hospitality and welcome. In the same way, we will meet obstacles and challenges, but there will also be blessings. We need to be careful that we don't get so caught up in the bad that we miss the good.
The second thing we need to see is that God frequently connects with us through other people. Jesus says that when the disciples are welcomed by others, they welcome Jesus as well and when they welcome Jesus they welcome the Father. When people would connect with the disciples, they are connecting with God. God often connects with us through other people and when we welcome people, we welcome God as well (Hebrews 13:2)
The third thing we need to see is the reverse of the second. When we cut ourselves off from people, we cut ourselves off from one of the main ways God blesses us. Jesus says that if welcome a prophet we receive a prophet's rewards and if we welcome a righteous man, we receive a righteous man's reward. When we welcome people with hospitality, we open ourselves up to God's blessings, but when we shut ourselves off from people, we cut ourselves off from those blessings.
Finally, we see that when we limit our generosity, we limit God's blessings in our lives. Jesus says that anyone who gives a cup of water in Jesus' name will receive a reward. God rewards out generosity towards others and when we limit our generosity, we limit those blessings from God.
When we are hospitable, when we welcome others with generosity, we open the door to deeper connection with God and we open the door to God's blessings.
David Dalton