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Hosts
How did it come about that the disciples where able to travel about at the time when to find somewhere to both eat and sleep could be difficult and expensive?
In Mathew's gospel chapter 10 Jesus sends the disciples out, telling them to go with out gold, silver or copper, to take no bag not staff. Their charge is that when they go anywhere they should “let your peace come upon it. If it is not worthy, let your peace return to you”. Further, if people will not receive them or listen to your words, they are to “…shake off the dust from your feet” as they leave that place.
A contemporary writer, writing about the Essenes, states that when they traveled they took no supplies because in every city there was one of their order appointed to entertain traveling members of the order. It is quite likely that people such as Simeon and Anna or Joseph of Arimathea (Luke chapters 2 and 23) who were waiting for the Kingdom of God would welcome messengers of the Kingdom.
Do we have similar hosts? There are arrangements for one kind or another in most if not all denominations for Christian and sometime non-Christian travelers. The URC has organisations to maintain links with Churches overseas. We read about such contacts month by month in REFORM, including ecumenical links.
The secular world seems very little aware of these things. Could we say that these world-wide, living links reveal the true strength of the living Kingdom of God?
Bob Mclean
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