Word to the Wise
Friday, February 8, 2013 - Friday in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 13:1-8 and Mark 6:14-29]Love your fellow Christians always. Do not neglect to show hospitality, for by that means some have entertained angels without knowing it. [Heb]
The Benedictine monks are famous for their hospitality because St. Benedict tells them in his "rule" that they should treat every guest as if he or she were Christ himself. We Dominicans try to pride ourselves on our hospitality as well. And, being from the American South as I am, I am aware of the cultural fame of "Southern hospitality." (The latter is a good way to keep people at arms' length till you get to know them better!) In the Middle East, the cradle culture of Christianity, hospitality was, and still is, considered to be a core value. The Letter to the Hebrews today exhorts the Christian community to maintain this value. Entertaining angels without knowing it could refer to Abraham or to Tobit in the Old Testament! It could refer to us as well! Perhaps the problem of Martha and Mary had crept into the community! Martha remains the patron saint of overworked hostesses!
One of my nephews and his wife operate a bed-and-breakfast home and they probably could speak to the demands of hospitality better than I. Hospitality requires an effort that can touch on all our thoughts and feelings about other folks. The famous dictum of Benjamin Franklin comes to mind: "Two things go bad after three days - fish and guests!" Nevertheless, the Lord has been known to visit in person or through messengers. Hospitality may well be a gate to a greater love. AMEN
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