TRUE HOSPITALITY

Luke 14:13-14

…invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

In the ancient Mediterranean culture, people who invited you to a dinner do not say "Thank you!" They say, "Pay me back." A guest is obligated to play host in return. Nowadays, we do say thank you, but do we really mean it. Why do we invite guests or friends into our homes for a meal, or take them out to a restaurant? Are we trying to impress them, hoping to win their favor, so they will do good things for us?

In our today’s gospel, Jesus is expounding the concept of true hospitality. This kind of hospitality is inviting people to a banquet because we want to be with them, talk to them and not because we are expecting that they invite us in return. True hospitality is being able to share our blessings with others so they may experience God’s love through us.

Moreover, Jesus is also trying to tell us that in relating with our neighbors, we are to have a servant’s heart. If we invite someone to our home, we should look for someone with a need – someone we can help in some way. When we give to those who are able to reward or repay us in some way, we are not really giving. We are only making a self-centered investment. Real giving involves giving to one who is unable to ever repay in any way.

If we are faithful to serve others through our hospitality, God will be the one who will bless us. Though it may not be in this lifetime, but surely, it will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. When you give to the Lord with no expectation of any other compensation in this life, then your heavenly reward is secure.

Let us pray +

Almighty Father, give me a servant’s heart. Help me find ways to show hospitality to those in need, not to win their favor, but to reflect your love to them that they will seek to know you better.

Amen +

In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.