Daily Devotional for May 7

 

May 7                                                        Matthew 10:24-42

Sitting in a booth at the airport coffee shop, I nurse my third
glass of iced tea. With every passing minute I grow more
restless. Sure, I agreed to meet Gina's plane with you, on behalf
of the church. But I thought we'd just slip into the crowds,
claim our charge, and disappear into the safety of my car. How
was I to know Gina's plane would be late?

Your face is so calm it annoys me. Perhaps you don't compre-
hend our predicament. Maybe you haven't been in this country
long enough to fully understand the risks of transporting an
illegal alien.

When I can stand it no longer, I whisper sharply, "How long
can we wait?"

"As long as we're asked to. What is your fear?"

Defensive and unprepared, I mutter something about respect-
ing the law. You are unimpressed. "My friend, " you gently
scold, "we are exactly where God called us to be. Should we
leave this woman to the mercy of the laws of unjust rulers?
Don't you understand?" I shake my head. For the next hour,
you teach me through your own story. I learn new words for
human suffering in Central America. I gain insight into divine
love and compassion. I discover that you, a physician, were
arrested and tortured because you gave medical aid to the
"enemy." With eyes glistening and head held high, you con-
fess, "I had no choice! The love of Jesus in my heart made
me bind their wounds."

An anonymous voice announces the arrival of Gina's plane.
I hesitate, not out of fear, but rather to scrawl a message on
the back of my paper placemat. Then, falling in step behind
you and Christ, I hurry to the gate and raise my sign for all
to see: "BUENAS NOCHES, GINA! WELCOME!"

         Jesus Christ, unique Child of God, have mercy
        on us. You ask us to follow you, and we want to.
  But sometimes, even to give a cup of cold water in this
      society requires a moral, ethical, political decision.
    Where's the right? Where's the wrong? Dear Jesus,
                hold our hands and show us the way.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.1989