DO THE SMALL THING TO SHOW THE MAIN THING
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Rom 6:3-4, 8-11; Mt 10: 37-42
Green Psalter Week-1
(If someone were to welcome you into their home, what kind of blessing would they receive from your visit?)
Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap
STORY: A story is told of Dr. Howard Kelly who was a renowned physician and surgeon and withal, a devout practicing Christian. During the summer holidays when in medical school, Dr. Kelly sold books to help with expenses. Becoming thirsty, he stopped one day at a farmhouse for a glass of water. A girl came to the door. When he asked for a glass of water, she sweetly said, “I will give you a glass of milk if you wish!” He drank the cool, refreshing milk heartily. The years passed. Dr. Kelly graduated from medical school and became the chief surgeon in John Hopkins Hospital. One day a seriously ill patient was admitted to the great hospital. She was given special care and place in a private room with a private nurse. The skilled chief surgeon spared no effort to make the patient well. After undergoing surgery, she convalesced rapidly. One day she was told by the head nurse, “Tomorrow you will go home!” Her joy was somewhat lessened by the thought of the large bill she must owe the hospital and surgeon. When she asked for it, the nurse brought the itemized bill. With a heavy heart, the patient began to read the different items from the top downward. She sighed. But as her eyes lowered, she saw the following note at the bottom of the large bill: Paid in full with one glass of milk! It was signed: Howard A. Kelly, M.D.
Today’s first reading and the Gospel speak about the significance of hospitality. Let’s travel back 850 BC. Elisha was God’s prophet to the Northern kingdom. He was the son of a farmer. If you remember Elijah found him behind oxen. At Elijah’s ascension into heaven, Elisha had picked up the mantle he had been anointed with. In Today’s first reading he is shown great hospitality by a simple but generous woman who was called great. The first reading invites us not to focus on the prophet but on the kind gesture of the nameless woman.
Bible calls her great. Let’s note the things she wasn’t. To be called great she isn’t from royal blood. Nothing indicates that she has great rank, or wealth, or high social status. She apparently wasn’t endowed with great knowledge, or skill. She wasn’t strikingly beautiful like the other characters in the Bible such as Sarah or Bathsheba or Esther. She didn’t save her people as did Esther, nor lead her people to God, as did the Samaritan woman by the well. She wasn’t a great leader or judge, like Deborah. So why study about her? What ingredients made her really great?
Three simple but important qualities made her great.
#1 Her Service (vs. 9-10). She served selflessly. Only thinking about the comfort of the traveller the God man.
#2 Her Contentment (vs. 11-13) Elisha says to her, “look, I owe you a favour, just tell me, give me the word and I’ll get it done for you.” What would you ask? Even when asked, the woman didn’t desire to have anything, she was content with what she had.
#3 – Her attitude! (vs. 19-26) Later in the chapter when asked by her husband why she was going to see the prophet – she states, “everything is alright”. Was everything alright? By no means! Years later we find that the promise God had given the woman had died. Her son whom she cherished, and never thought she could have, had died in her arms. She had been given more than she could have hoped for but now she was in bitter distress and would have been heart broken. Her dreams would have disappeared. What did she do? She laid the child on the man of Gods bed, she didn’t tell anybody else, and she ran straight to Elisha. It was only when the man of God returned to the place prepared for him and saw the problem that the promise was resurrected.
God blessed this Shunemmite woman with more than what she ever dreamed or hoped for. Why did God bless her so greatly? It was because she had a desire to serve the man of God without expecting anything back. This woman’s primary motive was to serve. If our primary motive when we come to God is to serve Him, then he will ensure that we also are blessed. Remember the Biblical quotes regarding hospitality (Lev. 19:33; Heb 13:1; 1 Pet 4:9; 1 Jn 4:8).
Questions for meditation: You a disciple of Christ…
- If someone were to welcome you into their home, what kind of blessing would s/he receive from your stay or visit?
- If a person has left the church, what could s/he gain by hosting you in their home?
- If a person is living in sin, what could s/he gain by hosting you in their home?
- If a person has never heard about Jesus, what could s/he gain by hosting you in their home?
If they offered you a place at their kitchen table and a glass of ice water: What would you chat about? The weather, your job, the children, sports, about priests or about Jesus? Would they hear your testimony, regarding “…how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you”. Would they hear you speak of Jesus? Would they see you as a living example of Christ? Write down what you would give to someone who welcomed you into their home? what kind of blessing would they receive from your visit?
Jesus challenges his disciples and us in our Gospel reading and in many other places in the Scriptures…….To do the small thing to show the main thing: God’s Love. In Matthew 10, it is giving even a cup of cold water. In John 13, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and then challenges them to love others. Jesus then makes this observation in John “Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for one another.” Do the small thing to show the main thing: God’s Love. We never fully know what small act of kindness will touch and transform a life.
God will open doors for us. But we must walk through them. Jesus challenges us to live out our purpose not only in the big moments of life, but in the little ones as well, even a cup of cold water given in His name. For we do the small thing to show the main thing: God’s Love. Simple acts done in love seem so small, yet when you realize God is at work through them, they become eternally large. Remember our Lord’s words to us: “Whatever you do for the least of these you do to me.” Just Do It! As NIKE add challenges us. “Just do it!” brothers and sisters! Sharing Jesus in practical ways; may be with a cup of cold water, with a hot meal, with words of prayer, a listening ear or may be a ride to the doctor. There are thousands of practical ways to be hospitable to others just to show them the love of God.
May God help us Christians to transform this world with our little acts of kindness and generosity. And they will know we are Christians by our love. Amen!