Connections – Matthew 10:40-42

A text – Matthew 10:40-42

⁴⁰ “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever 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, ⁴² 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.”

A reflection:

Jesus is sending his followers out in mission to the world. They are to bring Jesus’s gifts of healing and proclamation to the world, heralding Jesus’s own ministry. They are followers, but Jesus is sending them as fore-runners, heralds of the Kingdom of God that he is always describing in his teachings.

Could you imagine Jesus speaking to you and saying, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” That would put us into a chain of heralds who proclaim by their actions the Kingdom of God. The Father has sent the Son, and the Son has sent the disciples. Whoever welcomes the disciples welcomes Jesus, and whoever welcomes Jesus welcomes God the Father.

Our God is a community of three persons, and God grows community wherever God’s creative power goes. It should come as no surprise that Jesus chose disciples to follow him, people who could remain connected to one another after Jesus’s death and resurrection and ascension. They would be missing Jesus but would have the Holy Spirit and one another to be encouragers and partners in mission. In my own work in the Kingdom I was grateful always to have a partner with me in the work, whether it was another laborer from Church Innovations or an on-site partner where I was going. And I remembered those words, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.” There is comfort and also power in that. In almost 30 years of traveling, I have received many a cup of cold water, feeling just like a little one who needed it. I’m glad God sees and rewards.

It is not easy to keep the faith alone. It is helpful to live and believe in community. But even when we do feel totally isolated, we can know that “whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” We are part of a community of God and followers, never separated, always connected.

A prayer:

Lord God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for being connected to us always. Help us to remember we are always with you and you with us. Help us to see our connections with neighbors we haven’t ever thought about who are also connected to you. Amen.