From the Rectors Desk

"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me...And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward." Matthew 10:40, 42.

Friends in Christ, in the past I have shared with you many stories of my personal experience as an African-Immigrant enjoying beautiful family-life in this country. I've talked about how to live a great life in the midst of so many challenges in this amazing country I now call my home in Canada. Despite all these challenges that cut-across cultural barriers from language to race or skin-colour, accent, among several others, I still choose to remain to be more positive in this glorious land and so to remain "Alive and Thankful" against any odds. With God's help, my experience as a thriving priest and pastor has shown me that giving a "cup of cold water" to anyone along the way of my Christian journey really matters! 

As part of my mini-sabbatical/study leave which I started this year, I recently attended a national conference in Montréal from May 19-22 at Villa St. Martin, organized by the Anglican Diocese of  Montréal Dio Theological College in conjunction with the United Church of Canada with the theme: "Shared Way, Shared Witness - A Gathering on Ministry for  a Collaborative Church." A well-enlightened collaborative ministry event I definitely most enjoyed in recent years. 

From the series of lectures, group discussions to learning sessions, what stood out for me was the lecture delivered by Kayko Driedger Hesslein, a Lutheran Pastor and Professor of Theology and Dean of Studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon. Hesslein mentioned that "when we talk about Christ as our centre, we're actually talking about someone who is a stranger to us." What does this mean? It means for us as Christians Dr. Hesslein helps us to explore the theological concept of "Christ as Stranger" and its implications for the church’s identity and mission. Hesslein says, "For Christians, God has come to dwell incomprehensibly among us as Jesus Christ, who is in many ways unknown to us. First historically, second religiously, third in the way that all humans are unknowable to one another, and fourth in the way that God is unknowable to us. We thus rely on this stranger, following him even though we don’t know him. The challenge for us is that following strangers is not actually how we historically interact with them."  As it is now without knowing many of us might be walking with that "Stranger-Christ" as did Cleopas and the other disciple on the resurrection morning on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-24). But this means for us being sensitive and  paying attention to offering help to that 'stranger' on the street to "pitch-in" with them as well as being vulnerable to feel how they feel, and welcoming and giving "a cup of cold water" to anyone we unknowingly meet in our daily life. So, how do we align our faith/belief system with who this "Stranger-Christ" is, and its implications for the church’s identity and mission? 

Since as Christians we are called as Church to witness beyond our pews or the four-walls of our buildings, "welcoming or giving" should be beyond our mission statements or what we tell the world who we are or what we do. But in our daily life as individuals we need to take cognizance to walk that path with those ordinary people that come along the way with us, even though we might presume we know them but we don't because they might be 'Stranger-Christ'  to us as fellow humans in need of "a cup of cold water."

Therefore, when next you see or meet an emotionally drained person, a person struggling with mental health, or even an addict on the street, a lonely senior or an homeless individual, a bereaved person struggling with the loss of a loved one or a family/friend/neighbour that has been abandoned, or anyone desperate around you, that might be a 'Stranger-Christ' next to you! Please offer your own "cup of cold water" in any form you could. With your  simple action or attitude, this could transform their grief and doubt into faith.