Community is not a by-product but a central aspect of the revelation that takes place in the Body of Christ. Recall the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were in desolation over what had happened in Jerusalem. Then a stranger joined them and began to interpret Scripture to them. When they reached their destination, the stranger began to leave their company and continue on his journey. Recognizing that it was near nightfall, they offered hospitality to the stranger by inviting him to share their home with them. He went in with them and as they shared table fellowship with this stranger, he took bread and broke it and their eyes were opened and they recognized Christ.
Recall a similar incident in Genesis 18:1-15 where the welcoming of a stranger resulted in the presence of God. Hebrews 13:1-2 would later interpret that story as an admonition for the Christian community to practice hospitality as a means of opening ourselves to the presence of God in our midst. As people not only hear these stories of faith in Scripture but also offer similar hospitality in the congregation, these stories become part of our living story. Our identity becomes interpreted by and shaped by the stories of faith of which we are a part. God’s work of welcoming the stranger now becomes a shared task with others. We are important and therefore have value and purpose in our lives.
Just because we are called to be the church, however, does not mean that we are aware of Christ’s presence in our midst The issue is not whether Christ is present but whether we are prepared to receive him.
Jesus lived among the people for many years before anyone recognized who it was that lived among them. In the Gospels, John the Baptist is the one who told us how to prepare the way to receive Christ. The church that seeks to strengthen its ability to be addressed by Christ must continually strive to, in the words of John the Baptist, “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.” (Luke 3:8) This is the way that we “prepare the way of the Lord” within the Christian community.
