OT XIII [A] (2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a; Rom 6:3-4, 8-11; Mt 10:37-42)

What seems to be the most common comparison made between Catholic parishes and Protestant churches is that the former lack the warmth and hospitality which you can readily experience in the latter. This has often been cited as the main reason why these Protestant churches appear to be more attractive than their Catholic counterparts. The readings today speak to us being hospitable to others.

In the first reading, the wealthy and pious woman did something remarkable in offering hospitality to Prophet Elisha when he occasionally passed that way. A piece of floor space, a mat, some food and friendship she offered and later asked her husband to build a little hut for the prophet on the roof of the house. In Biblical times hospitality was considered an important virtue. This was especially true when extended to someone doing God’s work. The reverence was extended to the office and not necessarily to the person. The woman’s kindness in making special arrangements for the Prophet was in reality kindness to God.  The prophet felt the need to reward her for her generosity and in return she now receives a reward beyond all proportions.  She was longing to have a son and in the name of God, the prophet promises the reward she wishes to have.

The foundation of Jesus’ request for commitment is recalled in today’s section of St Paul’s letter to the Romans. Christians in a world of sin must live out their Baptism. In Paul’s time, Baptism was by immersion.  This symbolized dying to sin so as to rise and live a new life that Christ intended: a life of liberation from the power of sin and death. This involves incorporation into Christ and into his Body, the church. Thus, a new creation takes place whereby we begin a lifelong process of dying to sin and becoming alive for God with the new life of the Gospel. By our baptism into Christ’s death, His death becomes ours. Christ’s story becomes our story. Christ’s strength becomes our strength. Christ’s body becomes our body. Christ’s risen life becomes our risen life. And for this reason, those who welcome us also welcome the One who sent us because they will be welcoming Christ. We, by virtue of our baptism, are that other Christ!

In today’s Gospel, we admire the total honesty of Jesus as he speaks to his disciples. He speaks paradoxically of being alive as involving such a degree of generous commitment to him as to be willing to let go of even those things we hold dearest in our life: our reputation, our physical well-being, and even our family ties if necessary.  Sometimes one has to choose between one’s closest ties on this earth and loyalty to Jesus. Those who would try to compromise as a way of keeping peace soon discover that keeping peace is not the same as having peace. Jesus says that whoever does not take up his cross and follow after him is not worthy of him.  The people of Galilee to whom Jesus was speaking knew very well what a cross was. When the Roman General Varus had crushed a revolt in Galilee in 4 BC, he had two thousand Jews crucified there and had the crosses placed by the roadsides as a lesson to others.  We may ask the question of what it means to be alive and what kind of life we obtain by carrying the cross. Jesus tells us that it is the only kind of life worth living. People who seek only themselves bring themselves to ruin. On the other hand, those who bring themselves to nothing for the sake of Jesus and give themselves to others discover who they are. A Christian who discovers his true identity spends his time, resources and energy in the service of others.

In a world of deep and divisive hostility like ours today, we truly believe a recapturing of the understanding and practice of biblical hospitality to be a key component of the renewal of our parishes. Hospitality is not optional to the Christian life. Our souls are measured by, among other things, how faithfully we provide hospitality to others. According to Christ, it is one of the conditions for salvation: “I was a stranger, and you made me welcome” (Mt. 25:35). The only way parishes become beacons of hospitality is for all of us to make hospitality our responsibility. Hospitality means acknowledging the presence of God in others and serving Him in them, especially those in whom we least expect to find Him. We, as individuals and as a community, are to look for opportunities to be hospitable–and, of course, there are plenty of ways of offering hospitality. Maybe hospitality is offered through a kind word to a stranger – or even a smile. A kind smile or a “hello” to someone waiting with us in a grocery line may be the only kindness that person encounters all day. We become fully alive as Christians through our generous giving of ourselves.

It is not just the ministers of hospitality who are responsible for extending hospitality to others at the Church. When everyone in a parish is welcoming, serving, blessing and being blessed, offering others the greatest gift which is the gift of salvation, then we can be sure that when we meet Jesus, He will show us the greatest hospitality by saying, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34).