The Gospel Eucharistic Reading for Sunday of Proper 8: Year A
“Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 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; 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.”” (Matthew 10: 40 – 42)
If we go forth in the Name of our Lord Jesus, we present Jesus to all we encounter, if we get out of the way. We are the gift wrapped package of Jesus. Jesus then, is the package that contains God, like the Trojan Horse of the Greeks who secretly entered Troy. So within each baptized Christian is hidden our Lord Jesus, and within Jesus is God Almighty. Delivering God to anyone is wonderful but especially to those who may not know God, is the most important thing any of us can do. And we don’t do it alone. We let go and let God; we let God work through us.
Now, after this opening statement, comes the “reward” language, which I don’t particularly care for. The prophet’s reward, the righteous person’s reward, and even the compassionate person’s reward, seems to encourage us to do good in order to receive the appropriate (and expected) reward. Let’s just be like Mary, and be God-bearers. Mary partnered with, and co-created with God not for herself but for the salvation of the world. Let her words resonate within ourselves, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38)
Maybe if we really work at being Jesus presenters, it in itself, will be reward enough. It is like the Christmas song that asks us to be good for goodness sake. When we enjoy good, we enjoy God, because God is Good; All the time.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: Proper 8 The Sunday closest to June 29 (BCP p.230)
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 