MINISTRY OF PRESENCE

Matthew 9:10

Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there.

Jesus joined and fellowshiped with outcasts and sinners. Yung mga latak, mga pwera, mga disempowered at marginalized ang binibigyan nya ng kanyang higit lalong malalim na atensyon bagama’t hindi naman nya ipinupwera yung mga makapangyarihan. Nagpunta nga sa kanya at inasikaso rin nya si Nicodemus na ruler of the synagogue. Pinagbigyan niya rin si Jairus na mayaman. Inuuna nya yung inihuhuli ng karamihan–mga bata, mga babae, mga makasalanan, mga mahihirap, pati mga minorities. Lahat ng kabaligtaran ng inaasahan sa kanyang panahon ang ginawa ng Panginoon sa kanyang social life.

People need, want, and thrive in well-timed and well-spaced human company. Ang regalo sa atin ng Dios sa pamamagitan ni Hesus ay yung hindi ka pinag-iisa kundi sinasamahan at dinadamayan. People should be able to have and enjoy godly, wholesome, constructive and uplifting company. And we, the people of God, should be able to fill that role as well. You can minister by your mere presence, as long as it is positive.

Jesus gave company, not to take but to give. Kung ito rin ang layunin natin, then and only then can we afford to go with just anybody who has nothing to give us. D’yan ka lang puedeng makisalamuha nang taos-puso dahil wala kang inaasahang kapalit. Jesus ministered to the outsiders, the unglamorous, the disempowered, the weak, the poor, the isolated and lonely. So give company to those who are alone and outside the system. Like the Lord, be sensitive to people’s situations and needs.