WELCOMING THE STRANGER - A CHRISTIAN CHALLENGE

Of all the accounts in the Gospels of Jesus appearing to his followers after his Resurrection on that first Easter Day, for me, none is more appealing, and indeed, more convincing, than when He joins two of them on their way home to Emmaus.

These two, one of them named Cleopas, had been in Jerusalem. They had seen Jesus tried and put to death on a cross. Then, just as they were about to begin their journey home, they heard that some women were saying that Jesus was alive. (Luke 26:13 following).

As they walked back to Emmaus, they were feeling sad and confused. Along the road they were joined by a stranger. He approaches them and asks what they were discussing together with such earnestness. The stranger joins in the conversation and contributes an explanation as to why these events had taken place back in Jerusalem.

Then they reach their home, and the stranger moves on as if continuing his journey, but the two disciples invite the stranger into their home for some rest and hospitality. And it is at their meal table that the stranger blesses the bread and breaks it, and immediately they recognise the stranger as the Risen Jesus. Then they say to each other those wonderful words of discovery, “Did we not feel our hearts on fire as he talked with us on the road and explained the scriptures to us”.

BUT......what if these two disciples had said to the stranger,

“Sorry, but would you please leave us alone. We just want to get home and try to make sense of what has happened to us and our friends. You’re intruding in our grief. Go away”.

OR..... having tolerated the intrusion for some time, they then let the stranger go on his way, without that invitation into their home.

If they had responded to the stranger in these ways, they might well have missed meeting the Risen Jesus.

WELCOMING THE STRANGER...

This is an oft repeated theme in both the Old and the New Testaments. It is one of the cornerstones in the teaching of Jesus. In just one example, Jesus says it all:

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).

This Christian virtue, taught by Jesus, is shown by a hospitality given with a loving and generous attitude to the stranger and the guest. Such people might be a new neighbour just moved in, a friend, or even an enemy, a homeless person, a refugee, an asylum seeker fleeing persecution, or a recently arrived immigrant.

Certain politicians and parts of the media would have us believe that Britain is changing and losing its identity by virtue of the influx of “strangers”. I have no doubt that this hot topic of immigration will feature largely in future elections, when to score points, myths and half-truths will emerge.

Of course, immigration into Britain has to be controlled, and somehow, illegal immigration has to be stopped. We live on an island with finite resources. It is how all this is managed that will speak volumes about the kind of people we are in this country. It is simply not acceptable to bunch a group of people together – the immigrants – irrespective of their circumstances, and label them as the “baddies”. In other words, demonise them.

There is a danger in going down that path, as the history of Nazi Germany sadly illustrates. These are challenging times for us who call ourselves the followers of Jesus. Jesus would have us be hospitable people, showing kindness and generosity to others, and especially the stranger and those in need. We follow this way because it is a reflection of God’s love and care for us.

We are called to be a “holy” people, and the root meaning of that word “holy” is “different”. Our calling as a Christian is to be different, and yes, maybe to have different values, standards and approach from those around us. It is just as Jesus commanded when he said, “love your neighbour as yourself”

If we are to be true to our calling, then following the risen and ascended Christ will have a cost.