Today's passages, in their simplicity and brevity, offer us much to think about for our daily living. This is not complicated theological doctrine, not a parable in which we need to struggle and tease out a meaning, No, it is simple everyday theology.

How do we offer compassionate hospitality to others in the name of Christ or for Christ's sake? Notice the question is not how do we be polite and greet one another with a smile and say hello, but how can we compassionately welcome each other? This passage is written after Jesus' death and resurrection. The disciples are moving from village to village, spreading the Good News of Christ or, as my son Mark describes my role, "Spreading the Joy of Jesus!"

When one welcomes a messenger of Christ one welcomes Christ and God. The example given is offering a cup of cool water. That seems like a very simple act to us, nothing special, but in the Near East, water is a precious commodity in the desert and heat. Welcoming someone to your home and offering a cup of cool water was like offering life itself. I wonder, what times in your lives have you welcomed your home or your hearts to a messenger of Christ or, for that matter, an angel in disguise and offered them compassion? What did it feel like to be the one who could offer a cool cup of water, a hot cup of coffee, a warm meal to someone who lives on the street, clothing to a person who has so little, a bed for the night? What blessing did you receive by offering compassion for the sake of Christ?

And I wonder, have you been in the other position? Have you ever received from another, compassionate hospitality? Does it feel different to be the one receiving rather than the one giving? This passage describes the disciples receiving compassionate hospitality from those with whom they have come to share the Good News of Christ.

Well, for much of my life, not only when I have been clergy, I have been in the position of receiving compassionate hospitality. From my experience, it is a whole lot easier to give hospitality than to receive it. Yet Jesus sends the disciples out instructing them to take nothing with them - no money, no extra clothing - just go and spread the Joy of Jesus!

I wonder why Jesus would be so specific with these instructions? And why did he live his life that way? Well, I think it might have something to do with humility. I don't know about you, but I find it a humbling experience to receive compassionate hospitality and somewhat of a privilege or an empowering experience to be able to give compassionate hospitality.

It might have something to do with a sense of power. As I said earlier, I have had many experiences of receiving compassionate hospitality. Often these gifts have reduced me to not being able to speak. I want to highlight a few.

When I was leaving The Pas in Northern Manitoba to attend theology school at Vancouver School of Theology at UBC, a friend with whom I worked in the union offered to take vacation time and, with his new truck, to tow the U- Haul trailer loaded with our belongings. The boys and I motored alongside in our 1982 Datson 210. I just couldn't conceive of someone doing that for us. No strings attached, nothing asked for in return. It was a humbling experience and something for which I will be always grateful.

When I was at Theology School (VST), there were many more opportunities to learn humility. As a single parent perhaps I was an easy target as someone who needed help, yet it never ceased to amaze me that help often came from the most unexpected places and people and when I most needed it.

Many of you have heard of my friend, Helen Arthur. I called her my guardian angel as she entered my life quite unexpectedly November of the second year I was at school. One day I met her and the next she was offering to fly the boys and I home to Manitoba for Christmas. I didn't want to accept such an extravagant gift, especially from someone I had just met and someone who I knew lived very simply in her own life. She insisted and the boys and I fly home for Christmas that year. She helped me in so many ways through the years of school and until to her death. She is a person who not only supported her own church but gave hundreds of dollars a month to The Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada and to First United Church in downtown Vancouver.

I moved to Pine Falls in Eastern Manitoba when I was ordained in 1995. I again received compassionate care when the United Church building was set on fire and a little two year old First Nations girl died in August of 1996. It was a very difficult time for the family of Katrina, the people of her community, the people of Pine Falls and area, the Pine Falls congregation and me. It was an intense time of media presence, grief of the loss of a young life and a church home, criminal investigation, court cases and rebuilding. There were many people who helped the congregation and I but the one for whom I will always be grateful is Sister Phyllis, who worked and lived with the Oblates on Katrina's First Nations Community. I had not met her until the tragedy and she stood by my side for the next few years helping me to build connections with the family. Amazingly, she moved to Bethlehem Retreat Centre a few years later and we were able to reconnect before she died of cancer.

When I moved to Northwood I was fortunate to have a few colleagues and friends in the area whom I knew from VST. However, it was the folks of this congregation who ministered to me in so many ways that made all the difference in my ability to be your minister. I dare not mention names for fear of missing someone. Some of you offered a place to stay, showed me the area and the best places to shop, and services like medical professionals and hairdressers. Some of you offered a listening ear and an open home. Over the years I have felt totally welcome in your homes as I was invited to be fully who I was with no pretense on what a minister should be. You ministered to me when I had surgery in 2001 and when the big event of April 2006 hit you rallied around in astonishing ways offering prayers, food, transportation and healing touch to name a few gifts.

This last few weeks I have been taken aback by your outpouring of love and compassion as together we say goodbye and make formal the ending of this pastoral relationship. I thank God for your abundant generosity and the ministry which you have offered me. So, it seems to me that you know what it means to offer compassionate hospitality and I hope that you have had opportunities to experience the grace of receiving such hospitality.

Jesus says that unless we come to him as a child we cannot fully know the kingdom of God. What does it mean to come as a little one? I think about a two or three year old; often they are full of questions, curiosity and wonder. They depend upon their parents or caretakers for everything. Unless proven otherwise they trust that their parents will give them food and take care of them.

When we come to God with open minds and hearts, with a sense of curiosity and wonder, with dependency upon God and humility, we know what it is like to come into the kingdom of God. If we are self sufficient and always the one giving and in control, it can be very hard for us to trust God or give our wills over to God's will. I find it a grace that I have been given endless opportunities in which I could not be in control and others have taken care of me so that I could learn humility and compassionate hospitality.

My friends, Jesus' message is as true today as it was two thousand years ago. We need to come to God with open and inquisitive minds and hearts. We need to both think and feel our way into a relationship with the divine. We need to let go of control and let God's will be our will, knowing that we can depend upon God for every aspect of our lives.

This doesn't mean that we sit back and do nothing, rather the opposite is true. We are to offer the compassionate hospitality of Christ to each person we meet and have the humility to accept the compassionate hospitality of others.

One last story - this week I had dinner with a woman in our community. I have been meeting with her for many years. She faces many challenges with mental health issues and therefore is on assistance. She is a woman of deep faith. I don't know anyone who can pray like she does. This week she wanted to take me out for dinner and pay for it. At first I resisted thinking that she could not afford it but finally realized that I needed to do this because it was important to her to give something back. If I had of refused I would have taken away her dignity and her power to do something for me. It was a learning opportunity for me.

During dinner she asked me to take one of her rings. She wears one ring on each finger. So, hesitantly, I did. I had also bought her a ring, a butterfly, to remember the times we shared together and the transformation I had seen in her. I gave her a card thanking her for what she had taught me. It was a holy time.

The Christian walk does not need to be complicated or filled with big words or ideas. It does need to be a walk of humility and dependence upon God and one another. It does mean that we learn both as we give and as we receive and both are important. We come to know of the kingdom of God as we trust in God and God's will for our lives. My prayer for this congregation is that you will seek God's guidance as you search for new leadership?that you will trust that God will provide for your needs?that you will open your arms wide to welcome those who come to minister to and with you. May it be so.

Home Page

Copyright 2008 Northwood United Church. All Rights Reserved.

free web template sponsored by Body Kits