I get to see Jesus lots

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:40-42

You wouldn't believe how lucky I am.

You wouldn't believe what a great position I am in.

Why? Because I have the privilege of being the Team Leader of the Ministry team at Kippax Uniting Church.

I have the privilege of being the person who has the key leadership role of UnitingCare Kippax (it is, of course, the very same thing, the very same people.)

Not the team leader of the staff (though that would be a good enough privilege with that team) but the team leader of all those who are connected with this community of faith and seeking to make a difference in the world because of the way God's spirit has moved them.

The privilege isn?t about some sort of title or supposed level of respect.

The privilege is that I get to see Jesus lots.

It's not because I have a deep meditative prayer life that takes me into a trancely state and I have visions but simply because when I look around me, I get to see Jesus lots.

It's not because I am having hallucinations or because I am surrounded by people with delusions or grandeur but it's because I get to see Jesus lots.

Right at the end of Matthew, there is the parable of the sheep and the goats, that talks about whenever we care for the seemingly least significant people, we care for Jesus.

Well, that's close to what I mean, but not quite the same.

Because, in today's passage it is the other way around.

Whoever is carrying out an act of service or ministry or care because they have been sent by God to do so is being Jesus.

And in my role ? in my privileged role ? I get to see Jesus over and over again.

And I have recently had the absolute privilege of speaking with different members of Government about the volunteer and staffed work that takes place in and through the people connected to this particular community of faith.

They are always stunned.

Maybe they're not used to seeing Jesus as often as I am.

Like, the other week when a single mum came in here absolutely distraught about things and having been referred here by one of the other local community agencies.
And one of the people here sat with her, and welcomed her in, and helped her relax and got her to tell her story;
And she told the story about how she and her children were past their last cent and couldn?t make things work; 
And she told her story about how she was paying $25 per week on bus tickets to get her kids to school because although she had applied for free bus tickets she must have "failed the test".
I had the privilege of seeing the way that the person here acted on her behalf, and rang the appropriate office and moved the person at the other end of the phone beyond a box of inaction and ensured that the children got their bus tickets and the pressure on the family was eased.

I had the privilege of seeing the way that this family was assisted with food which was all donated by other people in the life of this faith community here and I had the privilege of seeing that single mum walk out of here as if life had been changed.

I get to see Jesus lots.

Or like last month when a young family from overseas moved into the area, with little English and with no extended family, and contacted us hoping we could provide some grandparents.
I had the privilege of seeing the relationship link established and the support come round the family, to help them with their language, to help them with their feelings of isolation and disconnections, and their fears of being in a new place among strange people

I get to see Jesus lots.

Or like the past 4 weeks, when every Sunday lunch time a group of adults gather and set aside some of their time to invest it in relationships with young people who are 11-14. And who help them with some of the stories of the Christian faith, some of the ways that Christianity can be lived out by them, and who help these young people see that they are of incredible value ? even on the verge of teenage.

I get to see Jesus lots.

Like last night, when in the midst of a busy weekend, right near the end of semester, as exams and assignments are mounting, they are recovering from music exams and work experience, a group of young people in the life of this congregation got together to practice music for worship so that when people came to worship today, the songs would work, the endings would be tight, and people in the congregation would be able to experience the presence of God one bit more.

I get to see Jesus lots.

Like this past week, when I spoke to someone who can hardly ever get to the church building these days but who is one of the best advocates for people in need anywhere in the ACT.

And she told me how she had been writing letters and making phone calls and she delighted in telling me of some of the conversations she had been having with politicians and representatives of departments and the way that things were different because of them.

I get to see Jesus lots.

Like just about every week when I get to speak with people who are working with people who are really struggling; things like helping people as Lifeline counsellors or taking care of sick and ageing parents, even though it is costing them stacks to have that impact on their lives; or linking with people in other countries to try and help them access support through Aid agencies;  or working out how the Micah project can be carried further by people in Australia ? and at Kippax; or sitting and praying with someone before (or after) an operation.

I get to see Jesus lots.

I hope I never forget how many times each and every day I get to see Jesus at work.
I hope I never forget to keep thanking people.
I hope as a people here, we remember how many times we see Jesus in these people
and that we treat them ? we treat each other ? as we would treat Jesus.

"Whoever welcomes them, welcomes me
and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me."