2013-07-18 Daniel Daring 2013 articles 2012 articles
16th Sunday: Hospitality
Genesis
18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42
Poles
have a meaningful Christmas Eve tradition. While the family sits around the
table to celebrate the birth of the Savior, there is always one additional place
set for an unexpected visitor, a friend, a stranger, or anybody who happens to
knock at the door on that special evening. “I was a stranger and you invited
me in” (Matthew 25:35).
Hospitality
is an ancient virtue, found in all cultures and religions. Homer in The
Odyssey says that “rudeness to a stranger is not decency, poor though he
may be, poorer than you. All wanderers and beggars come from Zeus. What we can
give is slight but the recompense great.” The Koran has this stipulation:
“Anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his neighbor
generously, and anybody who believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his
guest generously by giving him his reward.” The Bible also compels us to be
hospitable (1 Peter 4:9), because by doing so we open ourselves to the
possibility of meeting God. “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by
doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews
13:2). Today, however, this ancient virtue seems to be in decline. Strangers are
treated with rudeness, wanderers and beggars are considered as pests of society,
and the majority of us prefer to meet God in the chapel or church rather than in
our homes by entertaining a stranger.
The
startling example of our xenophobic attitude is the story of 433 Afghan
asylum-seekers rescued from the sinking Indonesian ferry, KM
Palapa, by the Norwegian cargo ship, MV
Tampa, on August 26, 2001. The vessel was stranded for weeks in
international waters, prevented by forty-five Australian SAS troops from reaching
Christmas Island. The Australian government and the media called the Afghans
“unauthorized arrivals,” “potential criminals,” and “suspected
terrorists.” They were not allowed to land safely on the Island. After the
stand-off that led to an international crisis, they were shipped to the Pacific
Island of Nauru instead. The story is alarming. It shows that our xenophobia
(fear of strangers) is eroding our conscience. We build walls and heavily guard
our borders, so all strangers will get the message: ‘you are not welcomed
here!’ Two thousand years ago the Word that became flesh got the same message:
“He came to his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).
Philoxenia,
the Greek word for hospitality, literally means love
of strangers. Abraham, our father in faith, perfectly exemplifies this
attitude. Upon seeing three men near his tent in the heat of the day, he
insisted that they enter his tent. He welcomed them, offered them water for
washing their feet and asked them to rest, while the meal was being prepared
(Genesis 18:2-5). The world tends to forget that strangers are people on a
journey. They left home - a place of belonging, identity, and security – for a
reason; either a tragedy befell them and now they have no place to go or they
are on a mission. Whatever the reason may be, strangers, together with
widows and orphans, are among the most vulnerable groups in society.
Being constantly on the move, away from home and loved ones is extremely
tiring and depressing. It is hospitality that soothes their longings for home,
family and rest. “Thou shalt love him [the stranger] as thyself” (Leviticus
19:34, KJV). Abraham, a wanderer himself, knew what it meant to be away from
home and that experience made his tent a place of rest for the strangers.
Loving
strangers is not easy. Many would agree with Shakespeare that “unbidden guests
are often welcomed when they are gone.” But guests are not just a burden. The
strangers, so warmly welcomed by Abraham, proclaimed something he did not even
dare to dream of: “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and
Sarah your wife will have a son” (Genesis 18:10). Jesus, the stranger on the
road to Emmaus, brought meaning and joy to his two disciples, who welcomed Him
and shared their supper with Him. He assured them of His presence in their lives
(Luke 24:13-35). Paul, stranded on Malta, was welcomed to the house of Publius,
the chief official of the island. “His father was sick in bed, suffering from
fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands
on him and healed him” (Acts 28:8). Although unbidden, strangers often bring
blessing to our lives. They may carry the answer to prayers, bring a solution to
problems, or/and challenge our doubts and uncertainties with this simple
question: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14).
“Let’s
eat” is a phrase one often hears in the Philippines, upon entering a house or
passing by a place, where a group of people happen to be eating. I heard it many
times, and each time I was amazed by its simplicity and the message it carried.
And there was one “let’s eat” that I will always remember. It came from a
poor farmer whose wife placed rice and dry fish on the table. According to my
estimates, it could satisfy three people. We were ten, including their five
children. “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality”
(Romans 12:13). That was God’s word in action.
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