St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wesley Chapel, FL
Preacher: The Very Rev. Adrienne R. Hymes
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost/Year A: June 28, 2026
Proper 8/Gospel: Matthew 10:40-42
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Deeply embedded in American culture is the concept of winners and losers. First-place Winners get cheers and trophies and those who place after the winner, don’t always get those things. More than that, winners are positioned to take their place in the exclusive winners’ circle. Our win-lose culture does not reflect the example of Jesus’ life and mission—a life lived counter to the culture of the Roman Empire—a society which made winners of the ruling men and their families, and losers of those on the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid.
Jesus’ life was not about creating earthly winners’ circles; Jesus’ life and public ministry, in the calling, forming, and sending of his disciples, was about God’s invitation to all people into the presence of God—the one, true heavenly winner’s circle. Our gospel passage is situated at the end of chapter 10 in Matthew. To provide context, at the beginning of chapter 10, Jesus gave the 12 disciples the authority to heal and cast out demons as he himself did, and he equipped them with instructions on how to move from town to town in obedience to God and in sole dependence on God.
As the disciples went about proclaiming the good news they were to take no money, no provisions for food, clothing or protection, and were to trust that, by their obedience, God would provide through the welcome and hospitality of others. Whether or not the apostles were welcomed and listened to, they were to continue to move ahead on their own journey, show up to proclaim the good news, and participate in God’s invitation to all to be in the presence of God, which had, in that moment, come near to the disciples’ potential hosts in the arrival of the apostles.
In these last three verses of the chapter, our gospel passage today concludes Jesus’ instruction for the disciples. Jesus described who, along their mission, would receive the reward of God’s presence by participating in God’s invitation through the act of welcome. Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me” (v. 40). The word “welcome” is used four times in this one sentence. The Christ-bearing apostles represented the very presence of God. Those who welcomed them, or a prophet or a righteous person, would receive the same reward as they. The disciples show up with a job to do. Those on the receiving end “show up” through the act of welcome.
The image of a participation trophy comes to mind. It’s a reward given not by winning a competition, or by being the best at something; it is a reward given to someone for showing up and making an effort to participate in an activity with others. The participation trophy is counter-cultural to our competitive, win-reward, lose-withhold society. Our scripture tells us that anyone participating, or “showing up” in the welcoming of anyone who bears God will be rewarded.
But what is the reward of an Apostle, a prophet, a righteous person and even a disciple? God’s very presence is the reward. What we witness in these final three verses is a series of human interactions, all contingent upon at least one person showing up and at least one other person welcoming them. It is in these relational interactions where the Christ-bearer shows up, and is welcomed by another, where the kingdom of God comes near to both the bearer and the one who receives. For we know that when two or three are gathered together in Jesus’ name, he will be in the midst of them.
In the last verse, Jesus pointed out that the welcome exemplified by anyone giving even a cup of cold water to one who came in the name of a disciple has been rewarded. We know that the human body cannot survive very long without water, and for those of us who experience the Florida heat, a cup of cold water certainly meets the basic survival needs for hydrating the body, but also for refreshment and comfort. It strikes me that the act of giving a cup of cold water is a sacred act. It is a reminder, for me, that in times of spiritual dryness, it is the living water of Jesus that gives life and restores the soul.
A few weeks ago, I parked here at the church next to a car with its driver’s door open. The person quickly closed it to allow me to park, and then quickly opened it again. I waved and unpacked the car and got settled into my office. After about 10 minutes, I looked outside of my office window and I noticed that the woman was still in her car. I assumed that she had arrived early for an appointment. A few more minutes went by and I walked out to her car. I said, “It’s hot. Come into the church—there’s air conditioning, water and a restroom.” As it turned out, the woman’s car wouldn’t start, and she was grateful for the invitation to take refuge in the church.
On several occasions, I previously invited the parking lot people into the church for bodily comfort. Up to this point, no one accepted my invitation for refreshment and comfort apart from melting in their car. But this woman did accept. I am glad that, even with the previous rejections to my invitations, I continued to risk showing up for a stranger anyway. And the woman welcomed me into her stressful moment. By accepting my invitation, the woman, welcomed and received the peace of Christ, to be in our midst and to bring comfort to her body and spirit. I, too, was blessed by her acceptance of the invitation, remembering that in showing hospitality to strangers that I might have entertained an angel without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).
To be in the presence of God, and to participate in building up God’s kingdom as it comes near to us, in myriad forms, is the divine reward accessible to us today and in the life to come. On the other side of the cross, where you and I stand, our task, today, is not only to proclaim Christ, but to embody—to BE—Christ in the everyday interactions with our neighbors. We are called to show Jesus’ love and his compassion which invites the wandering, and wondering, souls into Christ the King’s winner’s circle, a circle that is at once exclusive and inclusive, where sin and death have been defeated once for all.
May we show up in the world and participate in God’s existing invitation to all people to join in the heavenly winner’s circle of the holy Trinity, so that all who believe in Jesus Christ may claim their reward of life eternal in the presence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
