Christian hospitality, being nice?

Last updated on: July 16, 2016 at 10:41 am by Father Pablo Migone

Christian hospitality, being nice? 2016-07-16T10:41:03-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Christian hospitality is not about being nice, anybody can be nice: even evil-doers can be nice to each other. Christian hospitality is about recognizing Christ in the other, as Saint Benedict wrote in the rule of life for his monks: “Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, ‘I came as a guest, and you received Me.’”

Christian hospitality is to worship, adore and serve Christ as Mary, Martha’s sister, did at his feet. Christian hospitality requires a generous heart. Throughout the centuries the Church has been hospitable because it is an integral part of her mission. Christians are called to recognize Christ in the needy, especially the sick, the hungry, the aged, the stranger and the imprisoned.

In the early Church, Romans were attracted to the Church because she took care of the poor, widows and orphans, the most vulnerable and disenfranchised members of Roman society. The 4th century Roman Emperor Julian (the Apostate, as he became to be known) even instituted a welfare system to prevent more conversions to the Church. Julian wrote, “these impious Galileans (meaning Christians) not only feed their own poor, but ours also; welcoming them into their meals, they attract them, as children are attracted, with cakes.”

The well-known author C.S. Lewis wrote, “next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”

The Church has and continues to show hospitality. The Church has and continues to welcome Christ with a generous heart when encountering the other. The Church has and continues to applaud all efforts in society that help the needy and the poor.

In 2013, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi reported to the United Nations Human Rights Council that the Church operates 547 care homes for lepers worldwide along with 18,179 medical dispensaries, 34,331 social rehabilitation facilities and 5,305 hospitals (of which 639 are in the United States). The Catholic Church also runs 17,223 homes for the elderly, 9,882 orphanages and countless soup kitchens and clothes closets. He also noted that the Church educates over sixty million students in institutions ranging from grade schools to universities.

Catholic Charities USA is ranked as the 15th largest charity in the United States by Forbes, preceded by other large institutions such as United Way, the Salvation Army, and Goodwill.

As Christians we must be keenly aware that our faith is not restricted to the walls of a building. Our faith pours out from what happens in church. Our faith pours out from our recognition of Christ in the Eucharist and moves us to recognize Christ in the other. We would never trample over the Eucharist… yet so often we trample over Christ present in our neighbor through our indifference, jealousy, envy, harshness, and gossip.

In every expression of hospitality to our neighbor we join Abraham in being hospitable to the three strangers who visited him, and we join in Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet. Christian hospitality is not a choice, but a command from Christ who teaches us to love our neighbor as He has loved us. Christian hospitality is not about being nice, but recognizing the author of life and goodness in your neighbor.

Article

Previous Post

June 25, 2016

Encuentro con Cristo en las montañas

Next Post

July 19, 2016 La hospitalidad cristiana, ¿es solo ser agradable?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which minor prophet foretells the coming of Elijah before the day of the Lord?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Obadiah Haggai Malachi Joel