DAY SIX - Welcoming others “Go and bear fruit, fruit that will last”
Scripture
(Jn 15:16b)
Gen 18:1-5 Abraham hosts the angels at the Oak of Mamre
Mk 6:30-44 Jesus’ compassion for the
crowds
Meditation
When we let ourselves be transformed by Christ, his love in
us grows and bears fruit. Welcoming the other is a concrete way of sharing the
love that is within us.
Throughout his life, Jesus welcomed those he met. He listened
to them and let himself be touched by them without being afraid of their
suffering.
In the gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves,
Jesus is moved with compassion after seeing the hungry crowd. He knows that the
entire human person must be nourished, and that he alone can truly satisfy the
hunger for bread and the thirst for life. But he does not wish to do this
without his disciples, without that little something they can give him: five
loaves and two fish.
Even today he draws us to be co-workers in his unconditional
care. Sometimes something as small as a kind look, an open ear, or our presence
is enough to make a person feel welcome. When we offer our poor abilities to
Jesus, he uses them in a surprising way.
We then experience what Abraham did, for it is by giving that
we receive, and when we welcome others, we are blessed in abundance.
It is Christ himself whom we receive in a guest.The rule of Taizé in French and English (2012) p. 103 Will the people we welcome day after day find in us men and women radiant with Christ, our peaceThe Sources of Taizé (2000) p. 60
Prayer
Jesus Christ, we desire to welcome fully the brothers and
sisters who are with us. You know how often we feel helpless in the face of
their suffering, yet you are always there ahead of us and you have already
received them in your compassion. Speak to them through our words, support them
through our actions, and let your blessing rest on us all.
When we reach out in service and ministry, we might sometimes think about what we are GETTING out of it. But that thinking makes it about us.
ReplyDeleteRather, we should ponder what we RECEIVE, because what we receive is a deeper awareness of holy presence and sacred love. And these are the things that we most need to bring to our service and ministry