Welcoming Christ: Today, we hear Jesus telling the disciples about the work that they are going to do for Christ. Jesus tells them, ⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Seems simple, but it is rather profound if you stop to think about it. Welcoming someone who came bearing a message meant welcoming not just the messenger, but also the one who sent the message. God sent Christ as a messenger, as one who came to show us and speak to us about God and living as people of God. For us today, what does welcoming the other look like and how do we welcome Christ into our lives? Who or what are our messengers today?

By welcoming one another, we are helping one another and helping with God’s work. There is a lot of work to do, but we do not need to worry about that because there are many of us to do it. As you welcome someone doing God’s work, start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a student and learner of God’s work.”

·         I wonder what work God has given us? 

·         I wonder how we welcome people as if we were welcoming God? 

·         I wonder how giving someone a cup of water is helping God’s messengers?

In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This time is a growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith.

Prayer: Loving God, help us welcome one another and to welcome you. Help us to hear and see your messengers in our midst. Guide our ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet that we may engage in your mission in the world. Amen.