SUMMER HOSPITALITY
In the tenth chapter of Luke’s gospel, several familiar and frightening scriptures are included from ‘the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few’ to ‘I send you out as lamb among wolves.’ The chapter begins with the instructions from Jesus to the seventy-two disciples that He sends out in pairs with several peculiar instructions such as ‘do not take a purse, a bag or sandals’ and, perhaps, among the most frightening phrases of all ‘eat whatever is placed before you’ and ‘whoever rejects you, rejects me.’ Some of the most memorable experiences of the summer involve traveling, meeting new people and seeing new foods. There are also unforgettable experiences related to lessons of courtesy and sensitivity.
The disciples have the unique privilege of being a part of the “advance team” for Jesus. They are sent to the places where Jesus is planning to travel to “test the waters” and prepare the way. The idea of being totally dependent upon the goodwill of strangers to welcome you and provide housing and meals is almost completely unimaginable. However, Jesus also instructs the disciples to heal the sickand tell them ‘the kingdom of God has come near you.’
‘Heal the sick’ is a phrase that is introduced so subtly that it appears either inconsequential or profoundly routine. However, the gift of ‘healing the sick’ is obviously unique because if that ability were widely available, the sick would not be sick very long. Amidst the long list of traveling instructions that include what not to bring (I.e., purse, bag or sandals) and what not to do (‘greet no one along the road’), Jesus also instructs the disciples to stay in one house as long as they are welcomed rather than moving from house to house.
It is easy to imagine being welcomed if healing is the gift that the disciples bring. It is difficult to expect rejection by those who are sick or to imagine rejection by those who care about those who are sick, but this may be the subjective element of evaluation. There are some illnesses that are easily diagnosed and healed. There are other illnesses (or conditions) that are not so easily identified or cured. As the “advance team,” the disciples are making the people aware that Jesus will be coming to offer the kingdom of God to all who will receive and follow.
During summer mission trips, many churches deploy teams of volunteers to offer healing and assistance. These opportunities can be quite exciting and rewarding for the volunteers and for the host families. So much can be learned through spending time sharing hospitality with others. I’ll always treasure the time participating in the Appalachian Service Project over several summers. While the technical skills of the volunteers to repair homes was sometimes quite limited, the ability to help heal the loneliness and despair was immeasurable. The most important parts of the experiences were the moments of feeling the nearness of God’s kingdom as we were all blessed by the times of mutual sharing.
The healing that is needed does not require traveling long distances, the harvest is often much closer than we are sometimes willing to acknowledge. There may be some sicknesses that we cannot heal, but there are many things we can do to facilitate healing. One example may be helping to provide access to the facilities or institutions that provide healing. Our heritage as Methodists includes this kind of dedication to connecting with those who are in need so that we might all be healed and reconciled to God.
We pray that you’re going out with other disciples to share the gift of healing and the invitation to welcome the kingdom of God among us as we labor together. If you are hoping to learn more about ways you can connect and serve through the ministries of the church, please contact the church office (connect@christchurchquadcities.com or 309-755-2508). We are looking forward to journeying with you to reach out to others to share the healing love of God.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
