Reading and Sermon for Sunday 28th June 2020

Matthew Chapter 10 v 40 – 42

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Before you read this sermon I would like you to have with you a simple glass of water. As you do think of this …

A glass of water. A simple glass of water.

A gift that everyone can give because it is the smallest of gifts. Even this, the smallest of gifts, is precious to the person receiving it, because sometimes in certain circumstances it is the gift of life.

Let us Pray – O God, light of the minds that know you, life of the souls that love you, and strength of the thoughts that seek you – bless the words that I will read and the meditations of my heart. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

A successful man known for his generosity was driving his new car through a poor part of town. A boy tried to flag him down. The man didn’t want to get involved, so he pretended he didn’t see the child. As he slowed for a red traffic light, he heard a loud crash. Someone had thrown a brick at his car, denting the boot.

The man stopped, jumped out of his car and grabbed the boy that threw the brick. “You little hooligan!” he yelled. “You’ll pay for this!”

“I’m sorry, mister,” the boy cried. “My mum’s lying on the floor in our house. I think she’s dying. Our phone’s been cut off and I’ve been trying for ten minutes to get someone to stop. I didn’t know what else to do! Call the police if you have to, but please, call a doctor for my mum first.”

The man was filled with shame. “I’m a doctor,” he said and asked, “Where is she?”

The boy took him to his mother and the doctor administered care and called for an ambulance.

“Will she live?” the boy sobbed. “Yes, son, she will,” the doctor said. “Then it’s worth going to jail. I’m sorry I ruined your car. You can call the police now.”

“There’s no need for the police,” the doctor said. “It was my fault you had to throw a brick to get my attention.”

The doctor made sure the boy was taken care of, and as he drove home he made the conscious decision not to fix the dent. He would keep it as a reminder that not everyone in need has a brick to throw.

In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew, I believe that what Jesus is telling us to do is similar to the famous Golden Rule – “Do unto others”.

A cup of cold water is a gift of hospitality that everyone can give because it is the smallest of gifts. Even this, the smallest of gifts, is precious to the person receiving it, because it sometimes it is the gift of life.

We are to do these often simple acts of hospitality for everyone we meet, because the recipient could be an angel, prophet or Jesus in disguise. Simple acts that can mean providing material support such as food, clothing or shelter. Acts of emotional, pastoral support for those who are struggling in whatever way or need a rock to hold onto within the seas of emotional storm.

It can also mean accepting the truth of our guest’s message that they give and share with us. We must be prepared to pay the costs of both financial and personal readiness.

It is expensive to provide for living expenses. Our personal space and privacy are invaded. We could be caught in the persecution that the disciples and followers of Christ faced and in some quarters still do face.

Jesus even said that hatred and persecution would get so bad that anyone who offered his sent ones a mere cup of cold water would receive a divine reward.

Those who do God’s work can be assured that those who help them will be rewarded. Doing God’s work includes healing and those who are in the health care profession often leave personal comforts such as family time to care for the needs of others.

When they care for their patients or those who work in the care industry care for their residents, they can be found to show the love Jesus showed us when he lived among us.

When we serve others, we serve Jesus, just like Jesus and his disciples served others.

We are to show compassion for others by caring for the sick, comforting those who mourn, etc. This is contrary to the often “me-first”, selfish culture.

When we serve others it will loosen our hold on our possessions, lives, and so on, but these small beginnings are the seed of a different kind of happiness – the happiness that the Christian life provides.

Even small gifts can make a big difference. It is a reminder of the old adage that “big things come in small packages”. To offer hospitality, care and compassion, we simply have to bring who we are, what we have and where we are.

It requires giving attention to the person receiving the hospitality. We have to receive the person first before they can receive the benefit of the gift we offer.

To Jesus, hospitality meant acceptance, even to those who, in his society and in his day, were deemed to be unacceptable. This is why he put his arms around lepers, ate with tax collectors and sinners, forgave adulterers and broke Sabbath laws.

Hospitality was not only important to Jesus, it was at the very heart of being God, and it didn’t make any difference to him where such hospitality took place, or to whom, or on what day.

When it comes to hospitality, we take turns being the host and being the guest.

Sometimes we are the ones who simply need a cup of water and kindness or even a hug and asking if we are ok for what we show on our face is often not what is happening under the surface comes. And then at other times, we are the ones providing the hug or cup of water.

The “little ones” Jesus refers to are frequently the scapegoats or victims in our society. They are the powerless, the weak and vulnerable, the hurting, the abused both physically and emotionally, the broken and abandoned, the elderly and young for they are often the easiest targets for peoples anger.

They need the help and compassion that Jesus offers through us.

For when we help them, we have the power of compassion to bring others into a relationship with God, the power of love to show others God’s love by showing them our love and the power of humbleness and humility to walk beside them and bring them face to face with God. Amen

Let us pray

Let us pray for the Church entrusted to the disciples and the world into which they were sent.

As Jesus called the twelve to be disciples, make all members of the Church faithful followers in the way that he taught. Strengthen the hope and love that belong to Christian people.