Hospitality – any person may be the Lord! 

Hospitality is a special form of attentive listening while answering someone’s call. 

St. Benedict in his 6^th Century rule for Beginners in Chapter 53 states: ‘Let all guests who arrive [at the monastery door] be received like Christ.’ For any guest may be the Lord, but the Lord may look very shabby! Sometimes we need to pay close attention and look beyond appearances to see the contours of the Lord in the other person. Sue McPherson, a young Aboriginal writer, in her book ‘Grace beside me’ tells a story about her Nan: ‘Every second Sunday after brekkie Nan baked up a storm, and then we’d go and spend time with Lefty. We walked through some large gates where we were searched and the wardens went through Nan’s food ... finally we were allowed into the prisoners greeting area where we waited for Lefty. We were the only ones, apart from Dad, who bothered to go. The first 10 mins were spent reminding Lefty  what he had done wrong ...when Nan felt Lefty was feeling guilty enough she brought out the food. All guilt was put on hold while we shared a laugh and ate the food Nan lovingly prepared. Nan baked extra for the other prisoners – she became Nan to all those boys. Thinking back I wonder, does lack of support somehow make these blokes re-offend.’[‘Grace beside me’, 2012, pg. 93.] 

One who welcomes - welcomes God Himself 

The first reading from the 2^nd Book of Kings speaks of a childless woman, who shows hospitality to a stranger beginning with providing a meal and later on building purpose built accommodation for him! Her hospitality is awarded and blessed by the stranger Elisha, with the promise of new life, a baby boy in the year ahead. One, who welcomes a man of God, welcomes God himself. 

Jesus himself both gave and received hospitality during his busy public ministry ... at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus is but one example. In today’s Gospel, [Matt. 10:37-42] Jesus from his discourse on Mission affirms the importance of hospitality and points to its deeper significance. ‘Anyone one who welcomes you,’ he says to his disciples ‘welcomes me and welcomes the One who sent me.’ Pope Francis reminds us: ‘that authentic hospitality is a profound Gospel value’ and Peter addressing the Christians in Rome says: ‘Make hospitality your special care! ’[Romans 12:21.]                                                                                                                                                                                            Marie Weatherall