Gen 18:1-10; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42
Hospitality is a great virtue hailed in all the world civilizations.
To the ancient Greeks and Romans, hospitality was a divine right. In the
Biblical tradition hospitality is an obligation. The most extreme example is
provided in Genesis (19:8), Lot provided hospitality to a group of men. When a
mob tried to attack them, he offered his daughter as substitute and pleaded to
spare his guests.
Celtic societies valued the concept of hospitality, especially, in
terms of protection. A host who granted a person’s request for refuge was
expected not only to provide food and shelter to the guests, but to make sure
they did not come to harm while under their care.
A real-life example of this is rooted in the history of the Scottish
Clan MacGregor from the early seventeenth century. The chief of Clan Lamont
arrived at the home of the MacGregor, chief in Glenstrae, told him that he was
fleeing from foes and requested refuge. The MacGregor welcomed his brother
chief with no questions asked. Later that night, members of the MacGregor clan
came looking for the Lamont chief, informing their chief that the Lamont had in
fact killed his son and heir in a quarrel. Holding to the sacred law of
hospitality, the MacGregor not only refused to hand over the Lamont to his
clansmen, but the next morning escorted him to his ancestral lands.
Today’s first reading gives an account of the hospitality of
Abraham. The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oak of Mamre. As soon as he saw
them, he invited to stay and offered hospitality. He served them with delicious
dinner and waited on them. They departed with a blessing, and a promise that
they would visit him again next year. The Gospel presents the hospitality of
Martha and Mary. Jesus, along with his disciples, visited the house of Martha and
Mary. Martha struggled hard to prepare food for that group. Mary peacefully sat
at Jesus’ feet, listening to him as he taught the people gathered around Him.
Two aspects of hospitality are bought out in this passage. The first
is, “generously provide for the guest.”
(Joke) – The good wife apologized to her unexpected guest for
serving the apple pie without cheese. The little boy of the family slipped
quietly away from the table for a moment, and returned with a cube of cheese,
which he laid on the guest’s plate. The visitor smiled in recognition of the
lad’s thoughtfulness, popped the cheese into his mouth, and then remarked:
“You must have sharper eyes than your mother, sonny. Where did you
find it?”
The boy replied with a flush of pride.
“In the rat-trap”
The first requirement of hospitality is to provide for the guest
generously. To feed his guests Abraham asked his wife to knead three bushels of
flour and make loaves. Then turning to the cattle Abraham took a fine and
tender calf. Taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all
before them.
Jesus himself had been the host many times, in his life. When the
crowd that was listening to Him felt hungry, Jesus multiplied bread to feed
them. After His resurrection, Jesus invited the disciples to come and share the
food he had prepared.
An example of the importance of hospitality in the classical world
is the tale of Baucis and Philemon. In this tale, the ancient gods Zeus and
Hermes visiting the town of Phrygia disguised as simple peasants. Their search
for a meal and a place to stay for the night met a lot of closed doors, until
they arrived at the house of Philemon and Baucis. Though poor, they couple acted as good hosts
by giving the little they had to their guests. They even proposed to slay the
one goose which guarded their house. As a reward, the gods granted them one
wish, besides saving them from the flooding of the rest of the unhospitable
town.
The second aspect of hospitality is to listen to the guest
attentively. Good hosts are good listeners. The medieval travellers, who
entered the hall of local lords were invited to tell the story of their journey
after refreshing themselves. When Jesus began his teaching there was a perfect
listener, Mary. In spite of Martha’s reminder, Jesus did not ask Mary to leave
her choice, of listening to Jesus.
Hospitality is always rewarded generously. Abraham was given the
promise that he would have a son, and Lot was saved before the destruction of
the town.
Hospitality, to bring its blessings, should be offered whole
heartedly. The proverb says, “It is a sin against hospitality, to open your
door and darken your countenance.” St. Peter Teaches, “Offer hospitality to one
another without grumbling.” Anything that we offer to others must spring from a
generous heart.
Remember the proverb, “Who practices hospitality entertains God
himself.
Satish
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