Building a Place for Hospitality

Hospitality quickly takes on very earthy dimensions—buildings, beds and blankets, pots and pans. As we share our place, make use of what is available, or create new places, how can we sustain personal, small-scale places of welcome along with more institutionalised expressions of care?

Scripture Reading: Acts 6:1-6

Reading: (based on Hebrews 13:1-3)

Let mutual love continue.

Let us not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,

for by doing that we may entertain angels

without knowing it.

Let us remember those who are in prison,

as though we were in prison with them;

those who are being tortured,

as though we ourselves were being tortured.

Reflection

Hospitality was practically necessary and theologically central for the first Christians. They were well grounded in the Old Testament requirements to establish formal, communal ways of caring for strangers and inspired by Jesus’ teaching and many examples of giving and receiving hospitality.

Because Christians went on the road to spread the gospel and to escape persecution, hospitality continued to be an important part of their shared life. Because converts came from many back- grounds, shared meals—usually in homes—became an important location for building unity and a new identity, for transcending social differences, and for making sure that the local poor were fed.

Deacons were chosen to manage aspects of hospitality (Acts 6:1-6) and letters of reference were written to introduce travelers to other churches (Acts 18:27; Romans 16:1-2; 1 Corinthians 16:3). These structures were early efforts at making it possible to sustain hospitality over the long term. Encouraging the practice of hospitality while simultaneously protecting the communities from abuse was important in helping faithful Christians avoid becoming grudging or negligent regarding this aspect of discipleship.

Gregory of Nazianus praised the care given to famine victims in one of the first Christian hospitals (ca. 370) for “combining personal respect with the supply of their necessity, and so giving them a double relief.” The institution was a “new city, a storehouse of piety,” he wrote.

Yet in the same era, John Chrysostom warned church members about simply turning hospitality over to special apartments, hospitals, and hospices. If a stranger is fed and housed from common funds, he asked “can that benefit you? If another man prays, does it follow that you are not bound to pray?” He urged members to continue in personal hospitality and to maintain respect for the persons they assisted. 

Efforts to make hospitality more widely available and predictable had unintended consequences, The benefits that came with the establishment of hospitals were inseparable from the difficulties created by specialized institutions. In hospitals, those who received assistance were often disconnected from family and community and hidden from public view. Roles were flattened and persons were viewed as either providers or recipients. There was little room for mutuality and little expectation that the recipient had something to contribute. Caregiving eventually became quite anonymous.

The trend of caring for strangers through formal, impersonal institutions has continued in the Church and society. Since today we have many large-scale institutions that offer assistance without providing we must be especially attentive to opportunities to reconnect hospitality and community in our homes, congregations, and social ministries.”

Hymn:

“In Imitation, Lord, of You”

In imitation, Lord, of you,

this solemn service we repeat;

for your example, full of grace,

has made this humble duty sweet.

Renew each sacred spark of love,

and vitalize the holy flame;

may union strong our hearts unite

while this we do in Jesus’ name.

Our great example you shall be,

in washing your disciples’ feet;

and as we follow your command,

make, Lord, our fellowship complete.

Will­iam Brickey (c. 1886)