“After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. 3 Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; 13 then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.” Acts 28:1-14

Paul finally arrives in Rome, and the scene is set for his final act of preaching. Paul continues to heal those who are sick – and the people respond to his prayer and healing. The people to whom Paul is ministering to on Malta are called “Barbaroi” which in the Greek means “natives” or “barbarians”. We might be quick to assume that people called barbarians are not going to be open to different and strange “religions” or practices – or even to be welcoming to people who do not look like them. Yet, is it not also true that often those who are the last, least, lost and little of any culture are also the ones who are quicker to come to accept help – and/or to welcome the stranger.

Isn’t this the battle that is happening on our own southern border – people are seeking help – our government wants to automatically call them barbarians, or rapists, or murderers. Yet many of them are people who have come with only what they have been able to carry for hundreds or thousands of miles.

If we consider ourselves to be a G-dly nation, or G-dly people, then we should welcome all people because this is what G-d’s word and G-d’s Grace compels us to do. When we welcome the stranger, they will be witnessing the very presence of G-d in the world.

Pastor Dave

“When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift. 33 Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.” 35 After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. 37 (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.) 38 After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.” Acts 27:27-38

Paul’s trip does not seem to be going the way that many would expect – in fact he becomes shipwrecked on the island of Malta. Although he is a prisoner, he continues to care for his fellow prisoners and the crew of the ship, including giving them advice. What a comfort Paul’s presence must have been for all involved.

The ministry of presence is so important with people today. So many times we want to visit someone, or call someone, but we worry too much about what to say. I will tell you that spending time with someone, even if you do not say very much, is still a powerful engagement. We don’t always have to know exactly what to say, or we do not always have to do something…just being present sometimes is enough to make a situation easier for others. More importantly, being present with someone reminds them that they are not alone in the journey on which they have embarked — no matter how difficult the journey, or how dangerous the ministry — no matter how much they feel hated or experience loneliness or isolation — our presence brings to them the very image of Jesus Christ. That, my friends, is a powerful image.

Pastor Dave