Anyone else thankful for the thanksgiving holiday? All our chickens came home to roost. We remember the voices of children playing and praying. So many of you enjoyed the company of guests who are not part of your immediate family. Our houses come to life when they are full of people. Then they leave. What do our guests leave behind when they depart? There is light and laughter in the walls. Perhaps that is why we feel the absence. To paraphrase St. John of the Cross, “My house is now all quiet.”
Paul and his companions went from the campfire to the estate of a wealthy Roman official, named Publius. Presumably there were no snakes in the house. The believers were welcomed with generous hospitality. What did Paul bring with him as a house-warming gift? Jesus. In the presence and power of Christ, he prayed for Publius’s father, healing him. The word got out and Paul healed a lot of others. Then they provided Paul and his companions with supplies for their journey.
Kindness is contagious. We are blessed to bless others. Often, we enjoy the gracious hospitality of others. What do we have to offer in return? In every house, we may pray in the name of Jesus for health, happiness, and hope. Our relationship with our world need not be adversarial. When we show kindness, we discover that it offers reciprocal benefits. We are the presence of Christ everywhere we go today. Offer his presence and power as you pray for all whom you encounter today. We may be sure that everyone we meet needs Jesus.
