Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20.

This week’s gospel reading invites us into the Kingdom of God by participating in a ministry of hospitality. Is it that simple? Yes, says Jesus. It is in the giving and receiving of hospitality that opportunities arise to give substantive help to others. When these things happen, the Kingdom of God is very near.

Other stories in the gospels show us that this notion of hospitality also includes our response to the foreigner, the outsider and to the person who practises a different religion. When hospitality is received or given followed by acts of substantive help, the Kingdom of God is very near.

Five foreign doctors practising in Australia were, last week, held by police on suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities. They have since been released, but their lives and the lives of their families have been irreparably damaged. I know, as a nation, we need to be vigilant in guarding against the possibility of a terrorist attack. At the same time, we need to be equally vigilant against excessive responses fuelled by paranoia that victimises the foreigner, the outsider or the person practising a different religion.

I may be a bit weird, but I would rather err on the side of hospitality than being reassured of my security in such situations. That is because only then do we get a glimpse of the kingdom of God.

Rev. Chris Howard
9th July, 2007