ADVENTure - Day 8
24 DAILY REFLECTIONS ON MISSION WITH THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels unawares” Hebrew 13.2
What does real hospitality look like?
In the TV programme, “Come dine with me”, hosts get marks out of ten on their home, their menu and the entertainment: Somewhere deep down, we’ve been told that there is some sort of achievement standard.
The New Testament word for hospitality is “philoxenia” which means “loving the stranger”. We’ve been learning that Christian hospitality is about love not au d’oerves. It can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water (Matthew 10.42) and sometimes it is about being willing to be guest rather than host like Jesus inviting himself to Zachaeus’ house.
Lightwave initiative “The Place by the Water” is a day retreat with a reputation for welcome and hospitality: Recently, however it was clear that loving their neighbours meant not being hosts but the guests of the local pub for carols.
Another group called Bridge – host a Ukrainian café (pictured) but to do this they are also guests of a café called “On the Huh”
The important thing is not to have a spotless home or perfect food, but a big heart
Lord show us how we can befriend others. Help us to be hospitable after the pattern of Jesus. Make us channels of your grace as we seek to love neighbour and stranger. Amen