Scripture Reflections

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me… And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
 
Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:40-42 are offered to the disciples to encourage them as they leave on mission. The disciples are to view anyone who helps them—a room to stay, a cup of water, a meal—as helping Jesus himself. There is a solidarity between Jesus and his disciples, a solidarity so thick that anything done to a disciple should be regarded as done to Jesus. On our side of the crucifixion and resurrection, we call this solidarity incorporation, which means that those baptized into the Trinity have truly and actually been made a part of Jesus.
 
This new reality, the truth that believers are a part of Jesus, lies behind Jesus’ statement to Saul on the road to Damascus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul’s actions weren’t just against Christians, they were against Jesus himself.
 
As we look at the faces of other Christians, as we bump into each other, seek to love each other, and learn to forgive each other, it is unlikely that we consciously think, “Everything I do and say to him or her is actually done and said to Jesus,” and yet that is the reality, according to Jesus. Clearly this should stop us from gossip, cruelty, and selfishness! But what is more, in a positive sense, Jesus says that our kind treatment of other disciples, because it is an act directed at him, will result in heavenly reward!
 
As you interact with other disciples of Christ, remind yourself that you are interacting with people who have been made one with Jesus. All that you do and say to them is done and said to our Lord.
 
Steven+