Hospitality

One of the speakers at the Renovare conference I attended was Lauren Winner. I already had her book “Mudhouse Sabbath” for several years in which she views Christian principles through her Jewish heritage. Part of what she talked about was the concept of hospitality. The Jewish tradition is to warmly welcome strangers since they had lived as exiles in an alien land and knew the value of being welcomed into homes. Jewish tradition says that houses were to be built with doors on all four sides of their house so that no traveler would have difficulty finding an entrance. In fact, it wasn’t enough to have the doors left open, the charge was to go out and bring in guests. The host was expected to serve the guests himself and the guest was expected to offer grace after the meal to thank his host. The guest should also leave a small portion of his meal on his dish to demonstrate that he had been given more than enough. Hospitality was seen as critical as study. The huppah, the canopy used in Jewish wedding ceremonies with four open sides, is used as a symbol that the newly married couple will take on these “acts of love” as they establish their own home. Ms. Winner suggests that “Creation is the ultimate expression of God's hospitality to his creatures.” She shared a personal story of a family that is so used to having visitors that their eight-year-old asked, “Mommy, why isn’t there anyone in the guest chair tonight?”

My prayer for the congregation?

God of Creation, you leave your arms open and welcome us warmly into your embrace. There are no strangers in your eyes, only loved ones. You are not content to wait for our stubbornness to fade, but come in search of us with bountiful gifts. You have fed us and provided sanctuary and we offer our thanksgivings and praises to You. Let us, in turn, welcome any who are drawn to the light inside. Let us be so accessible that none have trouble finding an entrance nor a welcoming smile. May we become so enthusiastic and thorough that our youngest become familiar with having guests in our halls and in our pews, and that they find it extraordinary not to have someone sitting alongside at a place of honor. Amen.