"Welcome!"

home.

Welcome — what does the word "welcome" mean? It means to receive someone in a warm and friendly way. But let's think deeper about this. When we truly welcome someone, we're not just being polite — we're showing them that they matter, that they have value, and that we're genuinely glad they're here.

Now here's a challenging question: Are people always welcome in our homes? What about people who are different from us? Do we welcome people into our home if their skin is a different color from ours? What if they speak a different language? What if they don't have as much money as we do, or if they have way more money than us? What if they have different abilities or disabilities? What if their family looks different from ours — maybe they have two moms, or they're being raised by their grandparents?

Think about your school for a moment. Have you ever noticed a new student who seemed nervous or left out? Maybe they dressed differently, or had an accent, or didn't know the "rules" of your school yet. How did you respond? Did you go out of your way to include them, or did you just ignore them? Sometimes it's easier to stick with our friends and not reach out to someone new, isn't it?

How about in our church? Do you think that we make everyone feel welcome in our church? Do we speak to those people who are visiting our church that we do not know? If someone comes to our church and they are not dressed the way we are dressed — maybe they're wearing jeans instead of dress clothes, or maybe they're dressed much fancier than us — do we make sure that they are made to feel welcome? What if they don't know when to stand up or sit down during the service? What if they don't know the songs we're singing?

Here's something really important that Jesus said: "He who receives you receives me" (Matthew 10:40). Let's think about what this means. When we welcome others — especially people who might be different from us or who might not fit in — we're actually welcoming Jesus himself. If we turn that around, we'll understand that if we do not welcome others into our homes and into our churches, it is the same as if we are refusing to welcome Jesus. We wouldn't do that, would we?

But here's the thing — sometimes welcoming others can be hard work. It might mean stepping out of our comfort zone. It might mean learning about different cultures or traditions. It might mean standing up for someone when others are being mean to them. It might mean inviting someone to sit with us at lunch when they're sitting alone.

Jesus also told us to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). Who is our neighbor? Jesus answered this question with the story of the Good Samaritan, showing us that our neighbor is anyone who needs our help and kindness — even people we might not expect to be friends with.

So let me ask you some questions to think about this week: How can you be a "welcome mat" at school? What about in your neighborhood? How can our church family do better at welcoming people who are different from us? What would it look like if we really treated every person as if they were Jesus coming to visit us?

Well, let's put the welcome mat out — and let's be sure that we mean it! But remember, being truly welcoming isn't just about being nice when people visit us. It's about actively looking for ways to include others, to make them feel valued, and to show them God's love through our actions.

Dear Father, help us to remember that when we refuse to welcome others to our homes and to our church, it is the same as refusing to welcome you. Give us courage to reach out to people who are different from us, and help us to see every person as someone you love deeply. Show us how to be your hands and feet in welcoming others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.