The word “hospitality” recalls visions of prim and proper – a tablescape perfectly curated, a casserole steaming straight out of the oven. It inherently suggests an attitude of preplanning and readiness, before the actual party commences; however, the gospels ask us not to plan for hospitality, but to expect it.
They suggest that we seek out opportunities with people around us to serve, and to live expectantly, always ready to step into hospitality in a moment’s notice. In Hebrews 13:2 it says “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” There’s a distinction between always having the house “guest-ready” – the pillows fluffed and counters sparkling – and always having yourself “guest-ready.”
Our friends, family, and neighbors who are desperate for home or safety do not typically come with a warning during which we can prepare, and plan. The hunger for home that overcomes people in need often comes abruptly, leaving us with the sudden question: “Can we welcome them now? Do we have the time, space, and energy now, when they need us most?”
When the shepherds out in the fields heard from the great heavenly host about the birth of Jesus, they had already been “keeping watch.” It took having hearts ready and open to not only receive that message of hope, but to respond the way they did…
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,” which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:15-16
The shepherds didn’t necessarily have space in their duties or schedule to drop everything and rush to welcome Jesus, but they had already made space in their hearts, and in their expectation of how to respond to the Lord’s prompting. With that space, the humility to set aside their very livelihood and “hurry” off to welcome the Christ child, that response is the radical, unreasonable hospitality to which we are called.
Once we make that space for others and set aside the strongholds of time, furnishings, capacity, and everything else, we can see exactly how Jesus asked us to deliver this hospitality and to whom. At a dinner party given by a rich Pharisee, Jesus explains his vision of hospitality…
“Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.”
Luke 14:12-14
He’s asking the listeners to seek out situations where they can show true hospitality – freely given, with no attachments. To be shown true, unconditional hospitality, like the kind Jesus shows, involves showing up with the intention of knowing – and truly seeing – the other.
Welcoming others as Jesus does means embracing others fully, unconditionally, and meeting them at the depths of where they are. This type of hospitality comes at a cost – our own desires and plans get pushed aside. When we focus simply on showing up and creating a home for those who we invite in, one that welcomes and loves them fully, we get to see what Jesus’ hospitality can yield – those seeking to be known finally finding a true home.
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Liz Kelpin and her husband, Aaron, and their two boys Bo & Fitz attend the North Site. She is the owner of Sunbound Books, an independent bookstore in the ’05 neighborhood. She enjoys reading, hiking with the boys, and Chick-fil-A Peppermint milkshakes.
