PENTECOST V | JUNE 28, 2026 | A Sermon based on Matthew 10: 40-42 (RCL) | by David Zersen

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ⁴¹ Whoever 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, ⁴² and 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.”

CHOOSING YOUR MISSION

At times, all of us, especially the preacher, find it difficult to make sense of the text assigned for the Sunday. In many mainline denominations that follow an assigned list of Sunday readings, technically known as periocopes, congregations expect that the sermon will be developed on one of the three readings or a combination of some of them. More often than not, the Gospel lesson for the day, written either by Mathew, Mark, Luke or John will be chosen. Sometimes, the preacher may say, “What in the world will I do with that lesson on Sunday?” And she or he might just choose one of the other readings or a free text instead!

Today’s Gospel lesson comes from  Matthew 10, successive sections of which are used for three Sundays in a row. It’s often headlined as the time when Jesus sends out his twelve disciples, and Matthew lists them all in verses 2-4. Jesus had just said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest.”

A MISSION THAT IS NOT OURS TO FULFILL

Many a preacher has used the words that follow to prepare today’s Christians for the challenges that are to face them as they go out into contemporary mission fields, like your neighborhood, your family members, your business associates or your friends. Using that assumption, we might be expected to be dragged before the local magistrates, persecuted by associates and hated by family members. But we should not miss the point that these twelve Jews are being sent “to the lost sheep of Israel” and they should not “go among the Gentiles” (10: 5-6). And challenging as are the directions that Jesus gives, these are not the same directions that are given after Pentecost to those whose mission outreach is recorded in the Book of Acts. There is nothing is this preparatory mission about going to all nations (Matt. 28:19), baptizing them and sharing the good news that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be born to a life that continues with God forever.

It is, therefore, fascinating to read Matthew 10 and realize that those first sent out by Jesus to prepare the way for his message about God’s coming reign were very brave people indeed. We are given only bits and pieces of Jesus preparation for these disciples, but we can imagine that they had more courage than many of us would have. From what legends tell us about them after Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can  imagine that they acquired leadership skills, a crash course in relying on God for everything so that they could accept even persecution knowing that “had their backs” Today, by the way, is the day when the Lutheran and the Anglican/Episcopal churches celebrate Iraneaue, bishop of Lyon. Born in Greece, he ultimately became bishop of Lyon in France at time when local persecutions against Christians were raging, largely instigated by pagans. He along  with many Christians down through the centuries, some of whom were martyred and some of whom lived to defend the faith, remind us of the courage of those who actually were called upon to take a stand when iut became dangerous to do so.

CHERISHING WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY CALLED TO DO

Even though we may not be called to be martyrs as has been the case with some, there are hints of what we may be called to be and do in today’s text. Matthew 10:42 talks about welcoming those who are called to live and share the Good News among us, especially those who are willing to offer a cup of cold water to the “little ones”. The Greek word there is micron which some have translated as “children”, but given the context, it’s better to simply call them the lesser brothers and sisters.Clealy they did not vaunt themselves up as being important and they probably looked like beggars given that they had shabby attire. There is something is this comment about being on the receiving end of a cup of cold water in a hot climate that says nothing about those who were kind enough to offer it. On the one, hospitality has a long history in desert communities where lack of food and water can make one desperate. There is something about hospitality toward those deprived of basic necessities  that lets Christians live out their with determination.

As we ask ourselves what mission, what dimension of hospitality we want to have frame us, it’s touching to ask what some of our mentors have done with this simply charity. Martin Luther, for example, was never rich because as he himself said his passion for hospitality allowed what gifts he had simply to slip though his fingers. He and Kaethe had six children born in nine years (two of whom died) and then they took I six from Luther’s sister who had died. They took in a nephew of Kathe’s, many students, guests and theologians who were fleeing from persecution. They charged no one so they were always on the verge of bankruptcy, trusting God to hold them together. When he was dying, Luther wrote his wife and son, “I have nothing to give but a rich God. Him I leave to you.” And when Kaethe died, “having accept those hospitable riches, she said, “I cling to Christ like a burr to a dress.”

What will be the basis for your hospitality, your cup of cold water, in the midst of your treasures? My mother left me this. We live near the rail tracks and she warned us children neve go there because “gypies on the freight stole children.” But when a transient came by to ask if he could rake leaves for a meal, she always provided one. And when our children were small, and bums would come by for a meal, we watched how the hungry man tried to fill his stomach as the children barraged him with questions.

Our world and our situation has changed. We are not called to surrender all that we have as were the Twelve, but we are called  to share with those less fortunate the cup of cold water that can make the difference between life and death. What is your personal mission for the Mikon, the lesser people? What will it be? A personal friend who was both a Lutheran pastor and an artist was also a Dalit, a member of the classless people in India. Some of his most powerful art shows Jesus befriending the Dalits, the micorn, the nobodies. And who is this Jesus, the viewer must ask? And why does he care? About them? About me?

And that is our question today as well? Who is this Jesus? Why does he care about me? And what is the mission to which he calls you? Perhaps at least one? Can you name? Is it yours? Why?