Readings:
Sermon:
Today’s Gospel reading is Jesus’ final instruction to the twelve before he sends them out to proclaim the good news to Israel, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” He sends them without money or provisions or spare clothes, in poverty by worldly standards; but with his authority to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons” (v8), in other words overflowing with the gifts of the Spirit.
It seems that Jesus was not the only spiritual leader in those times to send out his disciples in poverty to preach his message; it was not uncommon. Some religious groups had gone to the extent of setting up a network of reception houses throughout Israel, where their disciples could find a welcome, somewhere to stay and be fed and re-equipped.
Against this background Jesus’ instruction is quite remarkable. He has no network of reception houses, instead his disciples are to stay wherever they find a welcome in Israel; and they are not to ask for payment or supplies of any kind but only to accept what they are offered.
Here we have the measure of the people of Israel. Whoever’s heart is open to offering hospitality to Jesus’ disciples, Jesus says their heart is open to receiving his message, and therefore is open to receiving God.
Returning to the reading, we may ask, are the disciples prophets? In this context yes, because they are bringing God’s message. We may ask, are the disciples righteous? In this context they have been instructed to treat everyone justly and more than justly, and if they are obedient to this instruction then yes. And we may ask, who are the “little ones”? Possibly children among Jesus’ followers, but more probably in this case Jesus is referring to the twelve whom he is sending out “like sheep into the midst of wolves” (v16); highly vulnerable yet cared for by God. Thus by giving them even a drink of cold water a person would be participating in delivering that care.
Questions:
- What does it mean to you, that the kingdom of heaven is near?
- How does this passage affect your understanding of hospitality?
- How might we welcome someone as the person they are?