By Rev. Aidan Moon
Showing Hospitality
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:2, English Standard Version
I’ve been on the receiving end of hospitality many times over the years. A number of those times have been at Benedictine monasteries like this one. Hospitality isn’t just a side feature: it is written into their “rule” by their namesake and founder, Saint Benedict:
“Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ.”
But you don’t need a monastic rule to see how important hospitality is for God’s people. It is a key virtue in both the Old and New Testament. The Greek word we translate hospitality literally translates as “love of the stranger.” It isn’t just about having friends over for dinner or being nice to people. It is about showing love to those who are different, who are other than you, even those who are difficult to love. Love for the stranger.
This bar of hospitality seems pretty high. But it’s not just a good idea or a rule to follow. Hospitality is rooted in the Gospel itself. The strangers, the “estranged,” are welcomed, brought near by the grace of God. The prodigal son is given the best robe. Enemies are made into family. Old and New, hospitality is grounded in understanding that we were strangers first.
“Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 10:19, English Standard Version
Showing hospitality is rooted in that reality. The welcomed, welcome. The loved, love. For Saint Benedict and many others, hospitality has been rooted in a love first shown to us. In this season of parties and family meals, it’s not just about putting on a show, “entertaining.” In the end, it’s about love. A love first shown to us. With love, a cozy place by the fire, a warm meal, or a kind word embody the Gospel in real time and space, grounded in the identity of God himself.
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
