Radical Hospitality

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NRSV)

Be hospitable to one another

The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.


DEVOTION

Today I've been giving a lot of thought to the concept of radical hospitality. I was first introduced to the book and concept when I was in seminary.

Later, I had the opportunity to actually get to know many Benedictine nuns in my community who daily live out the idea of "welcoming all as Christ," which is radical hospitality at its best!

After reading today's scripture, I am struck by the words, "be hospitable to one another without complaining." Later, we hear, "serve and speak" to the glory of God!

It occurs to me that many in our churches need to get a-hold of these important concepts! It is a sad day when a non-Christian, or non-member shows up and is ignored and/or treated with contempt.

If we all made up our minds that every person who came through the door would be welcomed as if they were Jesus, how different our ministries would be!

Whether the person was African, European, American, Australian, or Asian, they would be welcome! Whether the person was rich, poor, employed, unemployed, homeless, housed, sane or insane, they would be welcome! Whether the person was young, old, abled, or differently abled, blind, deaf, or mute, they would be welcome!

Ah! This was the way our Lord and Savior, Jesus welcomed everyone--without respect of persons. All were equally welcome...

In his day, Jesus reached out to those who were unwelcome by society--women, children, lepers, Samaritans, sick, and disabled folks who just needed the touch of unconditional love and amazing grace!

As followers of Jesus, our mandate is simple. We must follow JESUS! If it was good enough for him, it's good enough for us!

I can't wait for that great day when all of our churches are an accurate reflection of ALL of the members of our communities! May each of us take up the work of Jesus Christ, welcoming all as Christ, in our churches, homes, and communities--today and everyday!


Let us pray: Oh God! Give me a heart to love everybody and to treat all of your children with kindness and respect. Please give me the spirit of radical hospitality so that everyone whom I meet will experience your love through me. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen...

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta


RECOMMENDATION

I highly recommend the book "Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love." You may purchase it on Amazon by clicking the link below! Enjoy; It changed my life!

LOVE POURED OUT (Alabaster Box)

*HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Today's devotion comes with a song. Please click the link below so you can listen! Blessings!

Today’s Gospel is so chock full of GOOD NEWS I don’t know where to start! I have been meditating on this Word since yesterday and it has been filling my heart with overflowing love! All I can say through my tears of joy is, “How wonderful is my Jesus!”

First of all, after two days of talking about how serious leprosy was to the Jewish community and how ritualized was the process of excluding them from the camp until they were well; how shocking it is to find that the first sentence of today’s Gospel says, “Now, while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper…” My goodness! Now there are many reasons I—and other theologians—can imagine that Jesus was in that house. We will never know if Simon was healed, or if “leper” was a nickname, or if Jesus was simply once again breaking social custom to love somebody into the arms of God. But, what we can know is that it is extraordinarily important to Jesus that we touch the untouchable, reach the unreachable, and love the unlovable following the example of Christ!

But, once we grasp that GOOD NEWS lesson there is another equally important lesson to be learned from the woman with the alabaster box. This woman had a precious and expensive gift. Rather than hording it to herself, she shared it with Jesus. She gave him the best of what she had. After her sacrifice the disciples murmured and complained saying what they would have done differently with the gift. But, Jesus stopped them and said that she had done a good thing by so extravagantly worshiping him, that her gift would be accepted by him as anointment for his burial, and that for all time her story would be remembered by the saints.

Today, Jesus’ prophecy comes true. You and I--born almost two thousand years later--affirm the woman's sacrifice and her love for Jesus. We seek to emulate her example and the example of Simon. For there are lots of things that Christians can choose to do for Jesus. Simon chose to serve him by offering the radical hospitality of a good meal in his home. The woman chose to worship him by giving her very best to the lover-of-her-soul. On that day the disciples chose to sit around and complain, second guessing the ministries of others.

Oh! Let us not be like the disciples on that day! Let us celebrate and affirm the good works that others do out of devotion to God and let us find our own work to do for Jesus! See, here’s the GOOD NEWS! There is plenty to do. God has given each of us gifts and talents to be used for God’s glory. In response to the glorious free gift of salvation secured on Calvary’s tree, let us all find a way to offer love, care, devotion, worship, hospitality, and service to God and to God’s children! Ultimately the disciples chose to follow the example of Jesus, Simon, and the woman with the alabaster box and today we bare witness that their labors were not in vain!

Is there a “gift” that you have been hoarding that you can offer to Jesus today?

My Jesus, you are the most precious gift in my life. Help me to utilize my GOD given talents to share GOOD NEWS with others! I want to help people to understand that you love them more than they can imagine and that you proved it on Calvary’s cross. Please forgive me for the times I have complained about the way others have chosen to share GOOD NEWS! I know there is more than enough “work” for all of us. I love you and want others to love you too. In Jesus Name, Amen.

¿NO SON BUENAS NOTICIAS?

Resumen en Español, proveido por un lector en Chile--Danilo Isla

AMOR REVELADO (Feliz día de San Valentin!)

Mateo 26:6-13
Jesús visita la casa de una persona leprosa.

El evangelio de hoy está lleno de BUENAS NUEVAS, no sé de donde comenzar! Primero que todo, ¿No es maravilloso que Jesús haya senado con Simón, el leproso? Esta verdad nos recuerda que es extraordinariamente importante para Jesus que toquemos a los "intocables", alcanzar al inalcanzable, y amar al que no es amado siguiendo el ejemplo de Cristo! En segundo lugar, la mujer de la caja de alabastro nos enseña una importante lección. Nos enseña que es vitalmente importante que le demos a Jesús lo mejor de lo que tenemos. Dios nos ha dado a cada uno de nosotros dones y talentos para que sean usados para la Gloria de Dios. En respuesta al glorioso libre don de la seguridad de salvación en el madero del calvario. Todos vamos a encontrar una manera de ofrecer amor, atención, devoción, culto, hospitalidad y servicio a Dios y a los hijos de Dios en el nombre de Jesús!

¿Hay un don que has estado escondiendo que puedes ofrecer a Jesús hoy?

Mi Jesús, eres el más precioso regalo en mi vida. Ayudame a utilizar mis talentos dados por Dios, para comartir las BUENAS NUEVAS con los otros. Quiero ayudarle a la gente a entender que les amas más de lo que ellos imaginan y que lo provaste en la cruz del Calvario. Por favor perdoname por las veces en que me he quejado por la forma en que otros han optado compartir las BUENAS NUEVAS! Sé que hay más que suficiente "trabajo" para todos nosotros. Te amo y quiero que los otros también te amen. En el nombre de Jesús, Amen.