Whether we are aware of it or not, our body language speaks volumes about what we are feeling and thinking. One of the recognized limitations of electronic communication is that most of the time we don’t have the benefit of seeing the other person’s posture, facial expression, or hand motions. Have you ever noticed how easily you can be misunderstood during a chat on the internet? Words mean different things when we are looking eye to eye with another, compared to when we are looking down or away. The angle of our bodies. The proximity to the others, eye contact, what we do with our hands - all communicate something to the other person. They declare, often quite powerfully, our receptiveness to the person with whom we are speaking.

Let’s think this morning about those 70 disciples sent out by Jesus to go on this missionary journey. They were to go out in pairs. They were to take nothing with them, and only stay in homes where they were welcome. If they entered a town and were rejected, they were simply to wipe the dust of the town from their shoes. Their goal was to bring peace, to bring the good news Jesus preached, and to bring wholeness to those they encountered.

The 70 went out, and when they returned there was great rejoicing. They felt that they had found receptive listeners. They had made an impact on peoples’ lives. They had made a difference. They don’t dwell on it in the text, but we certainly know that encountered some who gave them the cold shoulder, some who would only open the door a crack when they knocked, and some would peer out and ask, “What do you want?” and then quickly slam the door shut. Those were towns where the dust would be cleared from their shoes. Those were the wolves of which Jesus spoke.

Psychologists have actually told us that 95% of a message comes through non-verbal means like voice tone, body language, and facial expression.

Most of the time, however, we are not completely aware of our own nonverbal communication. And if we pay attention to it, it can be very instructive in terms of coming to a greater understanding of ourselves. If our bodies are not being attentive to another person, what might that mean? What is it that we are feeling? Are we really communicating what we intend to? Sometimes awareness can bring us to change our posture, or our focus.

Then there are the times when we are very aware of our nonverbal cues. These are those instances when we either really want the other person to know we are 100% with them, or when we want them to know we are not with them at all.
Have you ever noticed how different your behaviors are when you are with someone you admire and love, compared to when you are with the salesperson who is trying to sell you something you have no intention of buying? We can be pretty wolf-ish when somebody at the door is trying to convert us or sell us something - at least I know I can be.

As Jesus prepared the disciples to go out into the world offering a message of peace and of love, he encouraged them to go to people and places where they sensed an openness, a receptiveness, and a hospitality to the message they brought. Jesus sent them forth so that they might assist people in developing their spiritual lives, so they might come to know more fully the resource of God in their lives and so they might be grounded in something other than the material, temporal world.

The scripture lesson challenges us to ask the question, “How am I doing at being receptive to the spirit of God in my life and showing that I am?” “Do I come across like a lamb or more like a wolf?” “Am I resistant to spiritual experience? Do I offer time and space? Do I open my hands and arms, or are they folded across my chest? Are my hands more clinched than open?” God has been described as one who travels at 3 miles an hour. What do our bodies say when we are pushing them at an 8 mile an hour clip?

I will admit that sometimes I talk on the phone in the car. And when I do, I am unaware of what I am passing by. In my quest to get everything checked off my list, I don’t savor the important conversations I could have with my loved ones, or perhaps with a member of the congregation. There are days when I am awake to see the sunrise and the sunset, but that words of gratitude don’t pass my lips because I haven’t allowed time for the gratitude to rise from my heart.

Our culture certainly doesn’t encourage us to make room for the feeding of our spirits. Our culture has no desire for us to benefit from moments of Sabbath. 4G replaces the 3G network - it just isn’t fast enough. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I have room for any more.

How are we doing at being receptive to the Spirit of God? Are we hospitable when we finally let God in?

“Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” If anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person. But if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide.”

Jesus brought the message again and again. As we sit around the table, we are close to each other. We say grace, we break bread, we tell stories, we make eye contact, we clear the dishes and wash them together, we take a load off our feet, and often if we are lucky, we linger over coffee. We slow down. This is what we need. This is what the world needs. We don’t need to be at a retreat center, or by a mountain stream, or in some powerful new program.

The blessing of Christ’s spirit comes to us wherever we are, whenever we can slow down, open our hands, and open our hearts. It can certainly help to be in a beautiful place, or to be with those who we love, or in a church setting where the music and the words speak, or around a table where bread is broken and lives are shared. But it always requires that we bring a hospitable attitude.
The disciples went out to bring peace. They were sent out that the lamb and the wolf might be able to dwell together. Sometimes, in our resistance, I am sure we appear to be more like wolves than like lambs. But when we let down some of our defenses, when we slow our pace, and open wide our eyes, we can be surprised by the ever-present God. We find our way to peace, and when we do it is a natural consequence that we pass that peace onto another. Our body language changes, our cold shoulder warms and moves toward another. Out gaze does not look beyond the one in front of us, but instead its gaze becomes clear. Out clenched fists slowly open.

We return again to the table, the meal which Jesus gave. Around it we are promised that where 2 or 3 are gathered, “there I am in your midst.” Refreshment, renewal, hospitality, blessing. Wolves tames, loneliness relieved, shame removed by grace. Despair rising into hope. The spirit of God is always upon us, the wellspring available. Our receptiveness the key. Hospitality is essential.

Around the table, Jesus’ presence is promised. Let’s make sure he doesn’t have to dust off his sandals here. The blessing will be ours, and the call will be that we pass that peace on to another.

In the slower days of summer, let’s make room - not just around this table, but around the tables in our homes and in our camps and around the picnic tables of our vacations. Let’s sit up and lean forward to we don’t miss a thing.
Amen.