Installation - Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Hosick

This afternoon I bring you greetings on behalf of Bishop Michael Pryse, Synod office staff, and from your Lutheran sisters and brothers throughout the Eastern Synod. Welcome to the beginning of a new expression of being In Mission for Others, in the Atlantic Ministry Area.

I am going to take a moment and talk about a particular aspect of Jeff’s life, relating it to the Gospel and Jeff’s pastoral role in our midst. The particular aspect is what I will call “Jeff’s open house policy.” In the not so distant past, I took the time to complete a doctorate degree at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville.  It required traveling to Wolfville, a coupe of times a year, for intensive weeks of courses.  Jeff made the whole process easier by opening his home in Kentville as home base for me during those weeks. I appreciated having a short drive, a place to lay my head, and a person who translated the Baptist world I was studying in – to something I understood.

Over the years, I was warmly welcomed: sometimes given my own room, depending on roommates – Jeff sometimes took the couch giving me his bed and ensuite.  I learned quickly and with amazement that Jeff’s door was always open.  There were people who dropped in. People living in a separate apartment, another downstairs, another upstairs, Jeff, myself --- all sharing one kitchen, one bathroom, one driveway. And then of course the dog whom Jeff had taken in. And the people all had a story, mostly colourful, interesting, and surprisingly shocking. There were a few long term tenants, but, there were those who were drifters leaving of their own accord, others that Jeff had to evict. And through it all Jeff was the gracious host, with an open door; and as tenants came and went; were in trouble with the law, partying, keeping extra people in their room, stealing, dealing with addictions, opening bags of psychological luggage, and leaving behind a garbage dump of possessions--- Jeff continued to keep his door open.

I learned over my time with Jeff, that he wasn’t opening his house out of some kind of martyr syndrome, or out of stupidity. Although the rent that was collected was helpful and at times needed, the secret is that Jeff’s open house policy comes from an open heart policy.

Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Jeff’s role among us will be lived from his open heart policy.  Take a look around you.  Notice your neighbor. It is quite obvious by the groups of people who have gathered around Jeff this afternoon, that we have all been infected by Jeff’s heart. We would not usually find ourselves in each other’s presence.  Jeff’s open heart, open house policy, open welcome --- draws us closer together, to honour and respect each other and the light within the other. 

The section of scripture read from Matthew’s Gospel, speaks of reward.  It would be a dishonor to the word if we focused on the reward, or needing a reward, or the expectation of a reward in a simple understanding of receiving a tangible item for an action or services rendered.  This would be Jeff simply receiving rent, as payment for offering space. Jeff’s open house policy was more than that.  Matthew is talking about a deeper kind of reward – one that requires risk, being uncomfortable, working in unfavourable conditions.  

Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; the prophets’ reward, according to the Biblical record, and examples from this past century, often meant ridicule for the prophet, who stood alone, worked alone, angered people by saying words they did not want to hear, and in some instances their words brought prison, death, martyrdom.  And whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous;  in the time of Matthew this also required walking courageously; facing persecution by one’s own people who understood scripture differently, abuse by the occupying people who interpreted proclaiming the good  news as disturbing the peace and inciting insurrection – in both cases disciples were put to death by stoning or left to rot in prison, maybe to face gladiators, lions, and tigers.

Being a disciple, a follower, welcoming others – all people- forming relationships, focusing on healing, forgiving, reconciliation, proclaiming the good news… was not … is not… welcomed by all.  People didn’t want to hear about it.  People didn’t want to do it.  What was the reward for them in providing welcome and hospitality?

 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.

There is a story from the end of WWII, where towns in Germany and Russia experienced a movement of prisoners of war being marched back to their places of origin.  On one such march, a Russian mother watched as German POWs were marched down the street.  Crowds had gathered, and there was much jeering, lots of derogatory comments, stones thrown; pleasure being taken in humiliating the foreign POWs.  In this milieu a Russian mother was watching as a young German soldier – tired and famished- fell; she was the first to run out into the street, people trying to pull her back, and she offered him -the enemy- a piece of bread.  She too became the object of disgust. When asked why she had acted in this way, she responded that she was a mother feeding a son. Her hope was that a German mother would treat her son in the same way as he was hopefully being marched back to Russia, to her arms.  This woman, this mother, worked from an open heart policy.

Lutheran Professor Elisabeth Johnson reflects: What would happen if we stopped expecting people to come on their own initiative through our church doors, and instead took seriously our calling to bring the gospel to them? What would happen if we truly believed that we bear the presence of Christ to every person we encounter, in every home, workplace, or neighborhood we enter? What would happen if we saw every conversation as an opportunity to speak words of grace, every interaction as an opportunity to embody Christ's love for the neighbor?

What would happen if we all lived from an open door policy, an open heart policy?

I live in Halifax, and one of the civic events growing in popularity, is Open-Doors Halifax. Twice a year, different buildings and venues around the city, open their doors to welcome the community inside.  There is a map and there are people present to welcome guests at each venue.  Some of the venues allow people to see spaces they otherwise would or could not, like the inside of the town clock, privately owned historic buildings, newly constructed apartment or condo units.  At most of these Open-door events, the Mosque, opens its doors… and do they provide a welcome.  The event isn’t so much about showing off the building as it is about building relationships with the community.  The Mosque is filled with an array of the faithful – representing Muslims from many countries and traditions. People are given one on one tours; tea is poured; stories are shared; sacred items are displayed; individuals talk about their faith; lectures and discussion panels are offered on a wide variety of topics; one can learn to put on a hijab; public officials and police are invited and visible; questions are welcomed and answered.  People from the greater community have learned and come, ready to remove their shoes; many women now come with their own scarves to cover their heads.  When a Mosque in Quebec experienced terror directed at their community, -- the next day at the time of prayer --- Halifax neighbours joined hands, circled around the Mosque, facing outwards, to keep out those who would come to harm Muslim neighbours.  Open doors at the Mosque, has not only helped us understand each other, it has grown relationships and opened hearts.

Jeff has been invited into our midst to open doors and to open hearts. He bears the presence of Christ to every person he encounters, in every home, workplace, or neighbourhood he enters.  In each conversation he is called to speak words of grace, and in every interaction sees an opportunity to embody Christ’s love for the neighbour.  May his example of discipleship compel and empower us to do the same.  May we share a cup of water with all on our door steps, all sitting beside us, all whom we are afraid of starting a relationship with. May our purpose be ministries of healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, welcome, hospitality --- for the healing of the world.