Matthew 10:40-42 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 10:40-42 on biblegateway.com
Verse 40"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Verse 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; Verse 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Devotion
These words of Jesus reflect the traditional and honored custom of receiving an emissary as if he were himself the one he represented. This is shown in another parable in Matthew 21:31-46, where the evil tenants of the vineyard rejected the emissaries of the owner. A hospitable man would consider the emissary standing before him as the master himself and would graciously attend to his needs.
Jesus presented himself as an emissary of the Father with the expectation that he would be received as such. "He who receives me receives him who sent me." The great sin of Israel was stated in John 1:11: "And his own people did not receive him."
Jesus wanted his followers to be hospitable receivers, welcoming the most humble servant of God. Even a cup of cool water given in honor of the master will be rewarded.
Prayer
Savior, like Mother Teresa, help us to see beyond the needy person to you. Amen.