We all want to be comfortable, usually this comfort is brought about by familiarity. We are comfortable around the people we are familiar with. We are comfortable when we are in our own homes, some items and objects help us to feel comfortable and when we are away from these things we experience discomfort and unease. The Lord today is inviting us out of our
comfort zone into other people's homes to minister to them.
We are invited to minister to people differ from us, with cultures and backgrounds that are different from ours. Sometimes we do not understand each other; we are not comfortable in each other’s spaces or presence.
How do we proceed? We must be open, open to understand the people’s culture without prejudice or judgment; open to share openly about our lives and prayer; and open to becoming vulnerable in God's loving presence. This is a start to building communities, communities rooted in the love of God. Communities are also built and sustained through the sharing of meals.
Where meals are shared, connections are formed. The Lord is asking us today to make these connections with those He sends us to. The sharing of meals allow for conversations, these conversations can include the word of God and listening to the others experience of God. Conversation includes speaking, listening and sometimes just being with the other, our presence and attitude becomes part of the conversation.
Accepting what we are offered, not only food, will build trust. Those we are sent to will trust that we bring good news to them. For people to open up to us, trust must be in place. We will build trust by being friendly, warm and sensitive like Jesus is. As those that are being sent out we should also trust in the providence of the Lord. Having no baggage means we are light to take up
all the Lord wants to gift us with on the journey.
