Hospitality was a fundamental value in ancient times. In the Second Book of Kings, when the prophet Elisha (successor to Elijah) arrives in Shunem, a woman of influence offers him food and shelter because he is a holy man, honoring Elisha because he is a vehicle of God’s word. The unnamed woman makes a place in her home where God’s word, in the guise of the prophet, can stay. And when God’s word is allowed to live and dwell in our midst, when we are hospitable to that word, then there is peace and prosperity. Moreover, God’s fidelity to God’s people is unwavering, as Psalm 89 reminds us: through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. It is no surprise, then, that God is welcome in their midst, or that the psalmist will sing the goodness of the Lord, forever.
Jesus will adapt the ancient laws of hospitality to his own teaching. In Matthew's Gospel, he sends his disciples out into the world to proclaim the good news, he assures them, saying, Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. When we make room for the Word of God in our lives, when we invite God’s love in, when we heed Christ’s call to inclusivity, we love God, and in so doing, we draw others into our love for God. When Jesus speaks of those who love father or mother more than me, he is reminding the disciples that the greater their love for God, the more room there is for everyone else. Our love for God makes room for our love for everyone.
Love is not a finite parcel we dole out, but rather an infinite channeling of the inexhaustible source of love flowing through us, one we must allow to keep expanding so that it can be ever more inclusive. For, as Paul writes to the Romans, we must think of ourselves as dead to sin, dead to our own self-focus, our own self-centeredness, our own egotism, living for God in Christ Jesus. We know connection in our own faith community and beyond only if we let the the Word of God direct us by receiving him into our lives, into our homes, daily, that we might share that love with our world.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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