“Hospitality”
I). The Often neglected, sometimes underestimated, Christian virtue is “Hospitality.”
Hospitality requires that we sometimes expose ourselves to others; as Christians
we must be willing to receive others, to welcome them into our lives, to share
not only our faith, but from our blessings even as the Christ did.
A) Was going to visit Dr. Smith, a retired Professor at the Chicago Theological
Seminary. Call me old fashioned; I still feel that we clergy ought to visit,
particularly our homebound members like Dr. Smith.
a. As I arrived at his house I first saw a carefully crafted sign, “NO
JUNK MAIL!” which made me hesitate at the door. My hesitation was well
placed, for then I heard a growling. It was then that I saw another sign, “BEWARE
OF DOG!” Suddenly, visiting Dr. Smith didn’t seem such a great idea
after all! I scurried back to my car and mires kicked up gravel as I left the
driveway. I still claim that there were teeth marks in the back tire!!
B). Quite a contrast to today’s Gospel: the beloved story of Mary and
Martha receiving Jesus into their home one evening, tow unmarried sisters- Mary,
the thoughtful one, Martha, the busy one. Two sisters who extended hospitality
to Jesus, with Martha, bustling about in the kitchen preparing dinner (we preachers
like people who do that for us), and Mary, sitting attentively at Jesus feet.
Hanging upon Jesus’ every word (we preacher’s like people who do
that for us too!).
C). Hospitality, it’s one of the minor Christian virtues, but an important
one throughout the New Testament. “Practice hospitality,” Paul often
urges his churches. And here, these two women are doing just that-Hospitality,
receiving the guest, the stranger into their home.
II). New meaning was given to me when, after reading this story on Sunday a
few years ago, a women in my congregation, single, and living alone, said to
me at the church door: “I hope you appreciate the courage it takes for
an unmarried woman to open the door at night and receive a man into her home.”
Surely, in that day, even more than ours, it took courage for these two women
to invite Jesus into their home.
A). So Mary and Martha remind us that there is more than a little risk in practicing
Hospitality. Hospitality requires exposure, the opening of the door into the
inner sanctum of the home. Maybe that’s why so few of us entertain in
the home, and then, only our closest friends at that. Because hospitality involves
welcoming a stranger into our home, and into our lives. It is risk taking at
it’s best!
1). The day is gone when the home was constructed to be an open opportunity to receive guests; the “Parlor,” for example, used not just to “court,” but for funerals and even weddings.
B). Israel was commanded to show hospitality, not only to fellow Jews, but also
to the “sojourner, the stranger in your gates.” Deuteronomy 10 says,
“Remember, you were a stranger and a sojourner, and God took you in.”
Implied: You do the same! Perhaps, this is the great tragedy of the story of
the Good Samaritan, the disregard by those who knew, of God’s command.
1). One day Abraham and Sarah were awakened from their afternoon nap, opened
their door and there were three strangers by the Oaks of Mamre. Sarah, like
her sister Martha after her, made them dinner. Those strangers turned out to
be strangers in disguise, angels who blessed the old couple for their hospitality.
Martha and Mary are thus being faithful to their faith in continuing the hospitality
among a people who have entertained “angels unaware.”
III). And, in our showing of hospitality, we meet the stranger, but the stranger
also meets us on our own turf. That’s part of the threat that lurks behind
our hospitality. Jesus enters the home of Mary and Martha and not only talks
with them and shares food at their table, but he also teaches them, admonishes
them.
But mostly the fear in hospitality is the fear that Mary and Martha had to overcome,
the fear of the other, the stranger. It is a challenging thing to make space
in our lives for the other. The main problem with the other is that they tend
to be so….other!
A). Now how about you? You’ve come to church this morning to meet God
and to be with Jesus. Perhaps to affirm your faith. Most of the time that’s
the way that we regard the Christian life: we come to church, we come to Jesus,
in prayer, we often beat on God’s door saying: “Is anyone there?”
Jesus, let us in!
But the truth of the matter is this, the Bible usually tells the story the other
way around. The door that needs to be open is not of Jesus, it is the door into
our own lives. The door of our hearts that we have often times locked shut.
The real question is: “Will we receive Jesus?” The book of Revelation
hears the Christ say to us: “Listen, I’m standing at the door, knocking;
if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come to you and eat with you,
and you with me.”
B). Being “Christ like” means to not only receive the truth but
to share the truth.
There is a short statement that sums up our faith: “Preach the Gospel
always, use words as necessary!”