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SERMON for JUNE 28, 2020
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COMPASSIONATE WELCOME
Text: Matthew 10: 40-42
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It has been said that the two most important times in life are the times we say – “Hello” and the times we say “Goodbye.” How we welcome one another – how we experience feeling welcomed or not – how our needs for belonging, for being included, for knowing that showing up matters somehow – to someone – all are important! We all crave acceptance in some way or another, and moreover – we experience a real boost when we can see that others not only accept us, but more than that – they appreciate us.
Day by day, walking through Palestine, Jesus of Nazareth encountered many, many people of all ages, races, and religions: men, women, children, Gentiles and Jews, Romans and slaves, the rich and powerful and those marginalized and barely surviving on the fringes of society. Time and again, when we read the Gospels, we cannot help but notice how Jesus paid attention to those who were usually overlooked, people not deemed worthy of attention, individuals for whom there was not even a trace of consideration for being accepted and treated as an equal, people who were ignored intentionally, and worse yet – those who were shunned and shamed by the majority culture. Those people…the outsiders…they are the ones whom Jesus welcomed – and they are the very ones whom Jesus teaches us to welcome.
Time and again, when I reflect on what Jesus taught His disciples, in word and deed, two thousand years ago, I am stunned by the power of the Lord’s words and witness. I suspect that at some time in your life, you have experienced what it is like not to be welcomed, not included, not accepted, not appreciated. Perhaps you recall a time when you showed up for an event and felt invisible, like an outsider, or worse yet – you felt rejected - not welcomed – even disrespected. You may be painfully aware of how hard it can be to recover from such negative experiences. Imagine if such experiences were a predictable and typical part of your daily life – if you had to go through the day with the expectation that others would regularly reject or dismiss you. Needless to say, systemic rejection and pervasive slights would affect you on many, many levels.
We all share a basic, universal human need to belong: it is with us from the moment we are born. Within our DNA, we are hard-wired to belong – to seek connections with others – to know that we matter – and to recognize others who share likewise the same needs that we have. Looking out for one another – and looking for those who look out for us – is part of our human nature.
“And 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.” Matt. 10: 42
To give a cup of cold water to a child – that is one of the best illustrations that the Lord Jesus offers to help us understand the path of discipleship. “Let the little children come to me,” Jesus teaches.
It sounds so basic – so simple – even obvious – right? Or is it so obvious? Valuing children and taking care of their basic needs cannot be taken for granted – even in the 21st century. Sadly, as Jesus observed in His daily life, walking about among the people, “welcoming” one another, including children, is not universally practiced. It is even more challenging in these pandemic times when we are practicing “social distancing” – doing our best to stay apart from one another – and wearing masks that make it difficult to see a smile. Avoiding contact with others is not a natural instinct or typical response, especially when we are stressed, worried, and afraid. Thus, we come together here today – gathered and separated safely – to experience anew – “welcome” – fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ – being connected, insofar as it is possible. We come to hear the Word of the Lord who teaches us to attend to each other’s basic survival needs. It is rather ironic that we cannot offer one another a cup of cold water on these hot days because of the fear of COVID-19 contagion.
Despite quarantine limitations and disease mitigation protocols, through in-person contact and virtual communications, we can still offer compassionate welcome. With words and caring acts, visibly and virtually, we can reach out to welcome one another - even the stranger in our midst, even the ones from whom we may feel distant and disconnected. More than any other generation before us, we have technological tools like smartphones and the internet that can facilitate welcoming one another with compassion, yet the very same platforms are often misused to nurture hatred of the other, to spread lies and propagate misinformation, to create divisions among communities through spurious posts, tweets, and texts. If you need to hear this message, I implore you – in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior – not to engage in hate speech or divisive rhetoric in both face-to-face speech and virtual communications. Words of welcome – like living water – help to restore souls starving for connection and attention, bring healing to the spirit, give hope to those within our faith community and outside it. Such words and deeds of compassion are what our Lord modeled for us, for we are God’s children. All people are God’s children.
Moreover, Jesus teaches that when we welcome one another in these ways, it is as if we are welcoming Jesus Himself – the Lord of the universe – the very One who gave His life on Calvary, in a particular place and time, so that we can welcome Him into our hearts and minds – everywhere and all the time. We need not make it more complicated than it is. Welcome the Lord – welcome one another - that is what we need to do – and in so doing, we will receive God’s eternal blessings of love and joy, peace and hope, in this life – and forevermore.
In some languages and cultures, such as Italian, Arabic, and Hebrew, the same word is used when greeting people and when saying goodbye: in Italian – “ciao,” Arabic – “salaam,” in Hebrew – “shalom.” In English, we have different words for greetings and farewells, so it would not make sense for us to say “welcome” to one another upon parting today. Nevertheless, I pray that you will depart with this word ringing in your ears – as the parting Word of the Lord for us all to remember – Welcome – Welcome – Welcome. Let us never forget to welcome one another in the name of the Lord – to do unto others as we would have them do unto us – for the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – until we are with the Lord forevermore. Welcome! To God be the glory! Amen.
Text: Matthew 10: 40-42
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It has been said that the two most important times in life are the times we say – “Hello” and the times we say “Goodbye.” How we welcome one another – how we experience feeling welcomed or not – how our needs for belonging, for being included, for knowing that showing up matters somehow – to someone – all are important! We all crave acceptance in some way or another, and moreover – we experience a real boost when we can see that others not only accept us, but more than that – they appreciate us.
Day by day, walking through Palestine, Jesus of Nazareth encountered many, many people of all ages, races, and religions: men, women, children, Gentiles and Jews, Romans and slaves, the rich and powerful and those marginalized and barely surviving on the fringes of society. Time and again, when we read the Gospels, we cannot help but notice how Jesus paid attention to those who were usually overlooked, people not deemed worthy of attention, individuals for whom there was not even a trace of consideration for being accepted and treated as an equal, people who were ignored intentionally, and worse yet – those who were shunned and shamed by the majority culture. Those people…the outsiders…they are the ones whom Jesus welcomed – and they are the very ones whom Jesus teaches us to welcome.
Time and again, when I reflect on what Jesus taught His disciples, in word and deed, two thousand years ago, I am stunned by the power of the Lord’s words and witness. I suspect that at some time in your life, you have experienced what it is like not to be welcomed, not included, not accepted, not appreciated. Perhaps you recall a time when you showed up for an event and felt invisible, like an outsider, or worse yet – you felt rejected - not welcomed – even disrespected. You may be painfully aware of how hard it can be to recover from such negative experiences. Imagine if such experiences were a predictable and typical part of your daily life – if you had to go through the day with the expectation that others would regularly reject or dismiss you. Needless to say, systemic rejection and pervasive slights would affect you on many, many levels.
We all share a basic, universal human need to belong: it is with us from the moment we are born. Within our DNA, we are hard-wired to belong – to seek connections with others – to know that we matter – and to recognize others who share likewise the same needs that we have. Looking out for one another – and looking for those who look out for us – is part of our human nature.
“And 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.” Matt. 10: 42
To give a cup of cold water to a child – that is one of the best illustrations that the Lord Jesus offers to help us understand the path of discipleship. “Let the little children come to me,” Jesus teaches.
It sounds so basic – so simple – even obvious – right? Or is it so obvious? Valuing children and taking care of their basic needs cannot be taken for granted – even in the 21st century. Sadly, as Jesus observed in His daily life, walking about among the people, “welcoming” one another, including children, is not universally practiced. It is even more challenging in these pandemic times when we are practicing “social distancing” – doing our best to stay apart from one another – and wearing masks that make it difficult to see a smile. Avoiding contact with others is not a natural instinct or typical response, especially when we are stressed, worried, and afraid. Thus, we come together here today – gathered and separated safely – to experience anew – “welcome” – fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ – being connected, insofar as it is possible. We come to hear the Word of the Lord who teaches us to attend to each other’s basic survival needs. It is rather ironic that we cannot offer one another a cup of cold water on these hot days because of the fear of COVID-19 contagion.
Despite quarantine limitations and disease mitigation protocols, through in-person contact and virtual communications, we can still offer compassionate welcome. With words and caring acts, visibly and virtually, we can reach out to welcome one another - even the stranger in our midst, even the ones from whom we may feel distant and disconnected. More than any other generation before us, we have technological tools like smartphones and the internet that can facilitate welcoming one another with compassion, yet the very same platforms are often misused to nurture hatred of the other, to spread lies and propagate misinformation, to create divisions among communities through spurious posts, tweets, and texts. If you need to hear this message, I implore you – in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior – not to engage in hate speech or divisive rhetoric in both face-to-face speech and virtual communications. Words of welcome – like living water – help to restore souls starving for connection and attention, bring healing to the spirit, give hope to those within our faith community and outside it. Such words and deeds of compassion are what our Lord modeled for us, for we are God’s children. All people are God’s children.
Moreover, Jesus teaches that when we welcome one another in these ways, it is as if we are welcoming Jesus Himself – the Lord of the universe – the very One who gave His life on Calvary, in a particular place and time, so that we can welcome Him into our hearts and minds – everywhere and all the time. We need not make it more complicated than it is. Welcome the Lord – welcome one another - that is what we need to do – and in so doing, we will receive God’s eternal blessings of love and joy, peace and hope, in this life – and forevermore.
In some languages and cultures, such as Italian, Arabic, and Hebrew, the same word is used when greeting people and when saying goodbye: in Italian – “ciao,” Arabic – “salaam,” in Hebrew – “shalom.” In English, we have different words for greetings and farewells, so it would not make sense for us to say “welcome” to one another upon parting today. Nevertheless, I pray that you will depart with this word ringing in your ears – as the parting Word of the Lord for us all to remember – Welcome – Welcome – Welcome. Let us never forget to welcome one another in the name of the Lord – to do unto others as we would have them do unto us – for the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – until we are with the Lord forevermore. Welcome! To God be the glory! Amen.