hospitality in love

Lots of people talk about God and claim to know all kinds of things about God. Evidently, in Jeremiah’s day, as today, that was a problem because some of the things prophets were saying made the rulers happy but didn’t work for the common people. Easy blessings, easy peace. But the common folk weren’t happy with the way things were. Jeremiah is troubled by and resists any “Whatever!!” approach to the Word of the Lord. For Jeremiah the Word of the Lord must always be a word of compassionate justice and mercy especially for the least.

So in response to easy talk of peace with no expectations for justice, Jeremiah (ch. 28) says “As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

Of course, prophetic truth is not about predicting the future, but about speaking truth into the present. We humans love the future and the past, but we have only the present in which to live.

Jesus resists predictions about dates, but he does lean into the reality of great suffering yet to come. Perhaps that was because in their world, and in ours, that was the one thing that seemed guaranteed–suffering. So Jesus acknowledged it but also spoke truth to those who had a hand in that suffering, in faithfulness to the unbending Word of the Lord. Jeremiah and Jesus are quite particular about what they call the “Word of the Lord.”

In today’s Gospel lesson, the truth of the message of prophets, righteous people, and disciples is whether it is accompanied by hospitality. The message is not complicated, no authorization or approval is needed. Authority in the early church was the practice of hospitality. Whoever takes up the cup of cool water has the authority of Christ, the disciples, prophets and righteous folk. Again, Jesus is encouraging simple action for the sake of self giving love.

Perhaps the greatest challenge we face today in providing a cup of cool water is cultivating relationships in which that happens. Our existence as a church is not for our own spiritual benefit, but to organize us to serve, to care, show compassion and mercy to others. The spiritual benefit is in our service, and cannot be separated from it. Jesus’ spiritual power comes from his engagement by love, in mercy for peace. He freely practices hospitality and gives his life as a final demonstration of his commitment to loving the least..

As with Jesus, the blessing of the Spirit of God is upon those who share hospitality freely in love. That is the love of Christ. Enjoy each relationship which allows you to show love by the power of the Spirit flowing in your gifts. Amen.