Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Radical Hospitality


From today's reading:  The Golden Rule   12  "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

Many people at Grace Church in Alvin have accepted the Bible Challenge to read the whole Bible in one year.  Today's readings are Gen. 19-22, Psalm 7 and Matthew 7.  Much of the reading has to do with hospitality acccording to Old Testament rules.  You see a positive example in Lot who invites the strangers in and feeds them and keeps them safe.  That is contrasted with the people of Sodom who are intent on abusing the strangers.  So what are the things we are to do to be hospitable in today's world?

Jesus gives us the answer to the hospitality question in the reading from Matthew.  Every religion has some form of the "Golden Rule," but in the other forms, it is always a passive statement - "don't do to others what you don't what them to do to you..." in other words, don't do bad things to other people.  But what Jesus says is a positive, active statement - DO to others - what you would like for them to do for you, IF your positions were reversed.  

Radical hospitality is a Christian ideal that has been in place for 2000 years.  This doesn't mean that we have to be a doormat for people, but we can live our life by being aware of the world and the people around us and the situations and needs that present themselves.    

Lord, as I walk through this day, help me to see places where I can be a positive and redeeming influence for others.  Amen.