Generous Hospitality

 Andre Rublev, Trinity Icon

Generous Hospitality

Fr. Tony’s Midweek Message

July 13, 2016

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (1 Peter 4:8-20). 

The Gospel lesson for Morning Prayer today is the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:  on judgment day, the King divides everyone into two groups, one on the left and one on the right, the goats and the sheep.  He divides them by whether they have helped him in time of need:  fed him while hungry, gave to drink while thirsty, clothed while naked, or visited when sick or in prison.  The blessed on his right are surprised:  “When did we ever do any of these things for you?” they ask.  Those being cast out are indignant: “When did we ever refuse such things for you?” they ask.  The King replies:  if your did it or refused it to any of the most insignificant of these, my brothers and sisters, you did it or refused it to me myself as if I had been standing there in person.”  When all is said and done, says Jesus, all that will matter is whether we helped people in need.    Generosity and hospitality are thus at the heart of what matters to us as human beings trying to live as God intends. 

This coming Sunday, the readings are about hospitality: Abraham and Sarah welcome with a meal and care three strangers, who then bless them with a promise of a child in their old age; Mary and Martha welcome Jesus to dinner and when Martha accuses Mary of being a slacker in the welcome, Jesus asks her to show as much generosity to her as she herself has shown to him.     

Generous hospitality is one of the virtues we as followers of Jesus must cultivate and practice.   Welcoming and feeding others, opening our homes to them, visiting them and simply standing with them are not sidebars in a Christian life.  They are its core text, our individual and corporate responsibility. 

Grace and peace,

Fr. Tony+