Ever burdened with
our American consumerism and capitalism orientation to life (“How much will it
cost?” “What’s my time worth?” “How will it affect my finances?”), it seems we
often equate our ability to give hospitality with however much we’ve calculated
we can spare. When we sense we can spare some change, some time or energy, then
we feel able to bear being hospitable. But a quick browse through Scripture and
the teaching of the saints confronts that self-absorbed interpretation of
hospitality very quickly; for authentic love is not absent of hospitality. “And
above all things have fervent love for one another … be hospitable to one
another” (1 Peter 4:8).
Saint Theodoros the
Great (Philokalia, Vol. 2, p. 32)
instructs us in being hospitable: “When we receive visits from our neighbors,
we should not consider this an irksome interruption, lest we cut ourselves off
from the law of love. Nor should we receive them as if we were doing them a
favor, but rather as if it is we ourselves who are receiving a favor;
therefore, being indebted to them, we should beg them cheerfully to enjoy our
hospitality. This is why the Apostle John says: ‘My children, let us love not
in word or tongue, but in action and truth. And by this we know that we belong
to the truth’ (1 John 3:18). “True love of neighbor naturally manifests in
hospitality.
The mystery of
hospitality lies in the unknown good fruit it will bear. The seeds planted by
having someone to breakfast, drinking a beer together, our simply sharing time
together over good conversation may bear spiritual blessings in ways we will
never know. How many of us have been given hope, been encouraged, lifted up
from despair, kindled with the love of Christ, inspired, and blessed in so many
other ways by a simple act of kindness from another person? Let us remember the
words of Christ, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the
least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Mt. 25:40). As Elder Anthimos of
St. Anne’s Skete reminds us, “Do not forget hospitality. You don’t know what
this hospitality might render. By hospitality, Abraham hosted the Holy Trinity,
and Lot entertained angels.”
Let’s us make
practicing hospitality between Thanksgiving and Nativity a priority this year.
We can host a gathering, or meal, just coffee and dessert. We can share our
lunch at school or work, or simply ask someone how they’re doing and open our
ears with compassion. Buy a pack of gum and share it with the first person you
encounter.
Let’s turn off the
‘me’ for the Nativity fast and turn on the ‘we’. In doing so, we become
enlightened to truth and real reality. Our neighbor then is no longer an
inconvenience, an expense, a waste of time, or a drain on our energy or
productivity. They are our path to salvation! And every encounter of
hospitality becomes an opportunity to experience Christ. “And while they still
did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food
here?’ So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He
took it and ate in their presence” (Lk. 24:41).
Whatever we’ve got,
let’s share it!
By Archpriest Thaddaeus Hardenbrook
Source: http://www.pravmir.com/the-nativity-season-and-hospitality/
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