“It Pays To Have Open Doors!”

“It Pays To Have Open Doors!”
Jesus called his twelve disciples and sent them out for a wholistic (holistic) mission. He gave them lengthy instructions (Mtt. 10:5-42) among which was that if they entered a home they should give it a greeting of peace. “If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you…”
The specific limits of our reflection today are verses 40-42; “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
The sad news is that these expectations are from the Christians but the instructions are given to the twelve; not in the knowledge of those who are expected to practice the expected hospitality. This implies that Jesus knows that intuitively each person knows what is good and when s/he does what is good there are accompanying benefits; just as much as one can lose a lot when one doesn’t know or put it into practice.
Again, Jesus mentions a prophet, a righteous man and “any of these little ones,” possibly referring to the same persons. A prophet is to be received for who s/he is, but s/he may not necessarily be righteous. Yes, among the twelve was Judas who betrayed Jesus, the two ambitious brothers who wanted the coveted positions by the left and right sides of Jesus, pompous Peter who assumed more than he really was and the rest who at the arrest of their master could not risk their lives for him. They all fled! Yet in all their frailties, to receive them in your home attracts a prophet’s blessings. And if the prophet is righteous, then you have a double portion of receiving the blessings of a righteous man. Most importantly by giving the wayfarer a cup of cold water because he is a disciple of the Lord attracts a commensurate reward.
Bottomline is that it is good to have open doors; be welcoming, be hospitable, entertain whoever, with at least cold water. Remember that water is life and it is God’s largesse to us; even if we now pay for it. Be good and do good!
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit keep urging me to do good, especially through open doors. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!