Hospitality is an important value for us. Not in the sense of the decor, the cordon bleu cuisine, or the great sound system playing tunes in the background. The real gift of hospitality lies beneath the wrapping, it’s what happens in us and between us as we share these moments of relationship. Hospitality, then, is a gift we offer to the guest for whom we make room. A gift of friendship and welcome, of listening and heart connection.
As we offer hospitality, we have the opportunity to rehearse the story of God together. We receive one another - just the way we are, at whatever point in our journey with Jesus - and we live into the reality that we are accepted, we are included, there is room for us, we belong. As we listen attentively, as we adapt to the needs and desires of our guest, we remember that God the Father listens to us and cares about our needs. As we share our stories, our grief and pain as well as our joy, we are reminded of our common humanity and common need for the grace and healing of our Lord.
In this sense it becomes obvious that we do not invite guests so that we can preach at them, or correct them, or face them up to their failings. No, we invite them so that we can receive them as we have been received by Jesus ourselves, wholeheartedly and unreservedly, no matter what our state, our questions, or our mistakes.
