This morning over our kitchen table one of our neighbours shared his story of being in hospital last week for some cancer tests. He was somewhat nervous but had decided to entrusted himself to the Lord that morning saying ˜Lord, you are in this place.’ He said the nurse wandered into his room, and without prior knowledge immediately identified him as a believer, saying; ˜the presence of Jesus is so strong in here’, and began to weep and pray in tongues. Both of them were overwhelmed by this unexpected encounter. It was clearly a beautiful ‘kairos moment’ which reminded both of them of the blessing of discovering the presence of God in a stranger.
The reality and power of this simple testimony reminded me of the root meaning of the word hospitality – it comes from the same Latin word Hospice or Hospital. These words imply care, shelter, sustenance. The bible is full of acts of kindness that demonstrate that the emphasis of biblical hospitality as not simply ‘entertaining’, which for many implies nice meals with friends (and there’s nothing wrong with that). It is not even about a ‘planned for event’, but rather it is about an attitude of service and attentive availability. My neighbour (the guest) was feeling vulnerable and weak but had decided to trust himself to the host(pital). The nurse (host) was attentively going about her daily business of caring for the sick, literally showing hospitality, when she encountered Jesus in her patient! For me this is a great picture of what we are talking about.
From Genesis to Revelation you see that hospitality is frequently the underlying theme of scripture. It is about a reconciling process that breaks hostility (another root word). Abraham quickly made preparations to feed God’s messengers in Genesis 18:1-18. In Leviticus 19 God gave specific instructions about how to make the ‘alien and stranger’ welcome. Paul and Peter give instructions on hospitality to the early church, encouraging them to practice it as part of their Christian way of life, preferably without grumbling says Peter! Paul even says we should feed our enemies. Jesus wasnt only concerned with people’s spiritual needs but their physical needs also, feeding the crowds and healing the sick wherever he went.
The exchange of hospitality is a complex and delicate one where someone gives and another receives. This is why it is such a beautiful and powerful expression of the gospel, and why we are excited to be exploring it this month.
When Julie and I got married (we have just celebrated our 35th anniversary) we prayed over our kitchen table asking that God would make it a place of safe communion with both friends and strangers alike. We’ve been through a few tables over 35 years, but if, as they say ‘that table could talk’ it would have a few stories to tell! Our prayer was, and still is, that wherever and whatever our kitchen table consists of, that there would always be space at it for strangers and that we would have enough to feed them both physically and spiritually. Because here’s the thing; hospitality is about making room for strangers. It’s about making room for people with whom we have no history and nothing to gain. And if anyone is crazy enough to like us enough to hang out with us then there is the possibility that they may become our friend, and if they become our friend then the possibility is there that they may also become a follower, and if they become a follower, then they could eventually become family!
Hospitality gives strangers a taste of what its like to be a part of your family.
I am reminded that it was largely the hospitality of a stranger (my girlfriend’s mum) that led me to faith. Her attentive attitude and generous hospitality made me curious about her faith, and when the moment came to challenge me on my predjudices she took it and I was ready to receive it. She didn’t live with the kind of fears or anxieties that most others around me seemed to live with, but demonstrated both compassion and courage, and communicated deep values of acceptance and trust. Above all, it wasn’t any great food or a fancy home that opened me up to her Lord, it was the great love she showed to a lost, hurting and confused teenager.
Matt 25: 35-40 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer Him, ˜Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? The King will answer and say to them, ˜Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’