This verse comes at the end of a section of the gospel which has Jesus teaching the

12 disciples on a variety of topics. As Jesus teaches the disciples that when people

welcome them, in reality they are also welcoming Jesus and God (who sent Jesus). Jesus

is drawing a link between the disciples and himself. The reality is that what people do to

them, they are in essence doing to Jesus. It draws some parallel with a teaching of Jesus

that comes later within the Gospel of Matthew—the parable of the sheep and the goat

(where Jesus talks about the judgment that comes when the sheep will be separated from

the goats—and this is based upon when people feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visited

the prisoners, etc.).

As I read this verse, I think that it has something significant to say to us in our world

today. What I hear is that as people of God we are in reality representatives of God

(where we think we are or not). Hence, as we are out and about within our communities

we are in essence bringing the presence of Christ wherever we are. For as people

welcome us—they are welcoming Jesus. This reinforces the tag phrase of the ELCA—

God’s Work, Our Hands. This tag phrase is meant to help us to see that as we are

servants and are sent into the world to make a difference, we are doing God’s work and

bringing the presence of Christ into that situation.

Luther said something very similar. Luther talked about Christians being ‘little Christ’s.’

How I understand this phrase of Luther is that we are called to bear the image of Christ

within our lives—so that people may encounter Christ as they encounter us.

This is a huge task. For I know that there are times when I am not a good representative

of Jesus and do not bear of the image of Christ well. I feel that I am like the words of St.

Paul in his letter to the church of Romans the seventh chapter (the good that I want to do,

I do not do and that which I do not want to do, that is what I do).

However, whether or not I am bearing the image of Christ well—the point is that through

me, people encounter Jesus. I need to hear these words that whoever welcomes you

welcomes me—so that I am reminded of the importance of seeking to live a life worthy

of God and one that assists others to encounter the Christ of love, forgiveness and grace.