“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me… and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:40, 42)
During announcements this past Sunday at St. John’s, Baroda, my mind was pulled back to this Gospel reading from two weeks ago. The congregation that morning was told that recently they had partnered with a local migrant ministry group to give out 3,000 bottles of Gatorade at local camps of seasonal agriculture workers. 3,000 bottles of Gatorade — in these days when we are hitting in the 90s that is a welcome gift to those who are laboring in the sun. Many parts of our synod are prime fruit growing regions and other parts great for growing standard crops. Often the care for and harvesting of those crops depends on seasonal workers who are willing to do this work.
The photo this week is of the Koinonia Lutheran Co-op summer youth service trip to Idaho in 2017. The picture was taken as we were camping at Yellowstone on our way out to our service site. We are hoisting a Gatorade toast to Jim, a generous gentleman from one of the churches, who loaded us up with cases and cases of Gatorade and chips. We went many miles in the strength of that food!
An ice-cold Gatorade on a hot day not only quenches our thirst but also helps our bodies to stay hydrated and regulated in a way that the heat will not make us sick. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 10 (and similarly in Matthew 25) that what we do to another person (good or bad) is the same as doing it to Jesus. That is also true when we are on the receiving end of the kindness.
I wish I could take you all with me each Sunday as I visit congregations around the synod. For all the worry and talk of the decline of the church, there is also much to celebrate. 3,000 bottles of Gatorade to our neighbors who are doing the hard work of harvesting food so that we may eat — in a time when many of them who are not originally from the United States are also being told “you aren’t wanted or welcome here.”
For all the worry and talk of the decline of the church, our youth are still cramming themselves into 15 passenger vans and volunteering to work in the hot sun on behalf of others and our churches are supporting their work with money and prayers and encouragement and cases and cases of chips and Gatorade.
Jesus, still lead on!
+BJST