God's Greeting
As an expression of Jesus' prophetical ministry, Jesus exposed a significant flaw in pharisaical religion. The Pharisees were more exclusionary - and thus, less welcoming - than God. They erected boundary markers that kept people out, rather than let people in. In essence, they had their own table in the middle of the Cafe, and it was obvious who was welcome. Even more, it was obvious who was not! By failing to be inclusive, they failed to live a kingdom life in a fallen world.
Our greeting is to be different. Jesus calls us to greet others with warm welcome. Our greeting is deeply influenced by the grace we have experienced in Christ. Instead of erecting boundaries to keep people out, we are to remove obstacles to people's participation in God's kingdom community. Instead of boundaries, we focus on the centre. All are welcome, for there is "neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, but all are one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28).
In contrast to exclusionary religion, Christ calls us to no less than the practice of radical hospitality.
Radical Hospitality
In order to comprehend the rich depths of radical hospitality, we must first lift the word from its common use. Henri Nouwen offers excellent insight in this regard and is worth quoting at length:
At first the word "hospitality" might evoke the image of soft sweet kindness, tea parties, bland conversations and a general atmosphere of coziness...
If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality. It is one of the richest biblical terms that can deepen and broaden our insight in our relationships to our fellow human beings...
The term hospitality... [is] a fundamental attitude toward our fellow human beings which can be expressed in a great variety of ways...
So we can see that creating space is far from easy in our occupied and preoccupied society. And still, if we expect any salvation, redemption, healing and new life, the first thing we need is an open receptive place where something can happen to us. Hospitality, therefore, is such an important attitude. We cannot change the world by new plan, project or idea. We cannot even change other people by our convictions, stories, advice and proposals, but we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations and to listen with attention and care to the voices speaking in their own center...
Just as we cannot force a plant to grow but can take away the weeds and stones which prevent its development, so we cannot force anyone to such a personal and intimate change of heart, but we can offer the space where such a change can take place.
Such hospitality reveals an openness to others. It welcomes others into our world, just as they are, with no strings attached. "Hospitality means making a space for others, not so that we can exploit them or get something from them, or even so that we can make them be like us. It is showing them the same kind of grace and mercy, the same presence, that God has given us."
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