Scripture Passage
Matthew 10:40-42
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Sermon Script
After I finished university, I travelled for a bit. I wanted some time away on my own. I went to Europe for a few weeks.
It was my first time travelling alone. It was exciting, but also challenging. Everything felt so new and foreign. Since I couldn’t speak the language, it got lonely at times.
I spent part of my travels in Paris. Instead of staying at a hotel, I booked an Airbnb.
One night, the owner of the apartment I was staying at showed up. He was a friendly man. He asked me to come up to the rooftop with him. He didn’t tell me. I wondered why.
When we got up there, it was pretty dark. He pointed somewhere far away and told me to look.
The Eiffel Tower suddenly lit up with bright lights. Then the man said, “Welcome to Paris!” It was an unforgettable moment.
The next morning, I noticed he left breakfast all prepared for me. He also left a note wishing me a great time in Paris. I never felt so welcomed. I felt the man’s heart behind his simple gestures.
Welcoming others is a beautiful practice. It is deeply human to welcome others.
When you are welcomed, you feel the warmth of the other person. You sense their love and care. That warmth washes away any feeling of loneliness you have. Whereas you felt disconnected from others before, being welcomed makes you feel connected again.
However, many of us find it difficult to welcome others. We shy away from it. Even for our Execs, they find it challenging. I sometimes feel that way too.
We feel like we need to really push ourselves to welcome someone. Why is that?
We are afraid. Fear prevents us from reaching out to others. It is fear that makes us stick close to what we are comfortable with.
We are afraid that things might turn awkward. We are afraid that we might get rejected. Or sometimes, we are just afraid of the other person and we don’t even know why. It is the fear in our hearts that keeps other people at bay.
Welcoming others is not about what we do necessarily. Neither is it about what we say. Just because we say, “Welcome!”, it doesn’t mean that the other person will feel truly welcomed.
Welcoming others is fundamentally about our hearts. It is about welcoming them with your heart. All we say and do flow from there. Our heart is what the other person senses.
We can say and do all the right things on the surface, but if our hearts are fearful and closed off, they will be left feeling cold. But if our hearts are open and receptive, they will feel warm.
We are living in a world that is growing cold each day. The warmth of human connection is disappearing. People are more isolated and lonelier than ever. The world is becoming an inhospitable place.
That is the air we breathe and the water we are in. We don’t even know how much it is shaping the way we live and relate to those around us.
Don’t follow the current of this cold and unwelcoming world. Go against it. That is what people of faith do.
We don’t follow the ways of this world mindlessly. We challenge it and strive to do what is good for humanity. Seek to live a life of welcoming others.
To do that, however, our hearts need to be transformed. If fear keeps you from welcoming others, address it. Ask God to help you overcome the fear you have inside of you.
Sometimes, the fear you need to overcome is the assumptions you have about others. We call that prejudice.
When you ask, God will give you the strength to overcome your fears. God will fill your heart with his love. Only love can drive out fear, nothing else.
John said—
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
When there is love in your heart, your heart will open up. You will be ready to receive others, just as they are. You will make them feel special and valued. You will bring joy to God who created them in his image.
Before he sent them out, Jesus told his disciples:
Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (Matthew 10:40)
Our summer camp is starting very soon. Many of you will be working as counsellors. We get so many campers each year. Do you know why?
It is because their parents are happy. They are happy because they see how much their children are loved and cared for.
That is what you are doing when you welcome the children and youths with all your heart. Not only do you make them happy, you also bring immense joy to their parents.
In the same way, when we welcome those in our midst, regardless of how old they are, we honour and glorify God. Treat each day of the camp as an opportunity to welcome others.
Practice putting yourself in another person’s shoes. That is another good way of overcoming our fears.
Rather than just focusing on how you feel, think about how the other person feels. If I was alone like him or her and no one approached me, how would I feel? Rather than your fears, your compassion for the other person will move you to welcome them.
Last Sunday, we had a newcomer come to our church. She had recently moved to Canada from Korea and was looking for a church to attend. She passed by St. Tim’s while walking and decided to visit. I met her during lunch time. I later introduced her to our KSM young adults, since they were similar in age.
One of the members took the initiative to sit with the newcomer and talk to her. Because of that, when the others came, the newcomer seemed more relaxed and at ease. I was so happy to see that.
Afterwards, I thanked the person for spending her time with the newcomer and making her feel welcomed. And she said, “I did it because I know how it feels to come to a new church all by yourself.”
I pray that we can all have that kind of welcoming heart for others.
St. Paul said—
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)
I shared this recently at our Lock-In. The word ‘welcome’ here is synonymous with ‘accept’.
Welcoming is accepting. Accepting the other person without condition.
That is what Christ did for us.
People feel accepted when we welcome them with our heart. Cultivate the welcoming heart within you!
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