In the 18 years I have been ordained a deacon, I probably have baptized a thousand or more children under the age of seven. In the early years I immersed or “dunked” them. As time goes on I now pour water over their heads so I don’t drop one by mistake, should my hands become too wet.
Baptism is the beginning Sacrament of hospitality into both the Catholic Church and to a relationship with God! It is a welcome that combines both the willingness of the persons, parents and godparents asking on behalf of their children, and of God who promises to nourish His creation if they in turn say “yes” to all God asks of them. St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans writes that the baptized win a spot in the Kingdom of Heaven and God begets a true follower who obeys the will of God forever.
In the first reading from the Book of Kings, the wealthy woman who reaches out to the Prophet Elisha to take care of his needs is rewarded with a son to take care of her when she becomes an elderly widow. Hospitality renders rewards for those who give from their hearts while expecting nothing in return.
Jesus in St. Matthew’s Gospel puts Himself in the place of a guest when He tells His Apostles: “Whoever receives you receives me.” He ups the ante even further by adding: “and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.” This is the true meaning of hospitality as defined by St. Benedict’s Rule, a hallmark of Benedictine spirituality and monastic living he taught to monks and nuns.
Hospitality today is not what it once was thousands of years ago for nomads who lived in the desert with their flocks, trying to find water and shade to avoid the hot sun so as not to become dehydrated, ill to heat stroke and possibly die. That’s why even strangers were helped during their journeys.
We are called to a deeper meaning of hospitality which is a personal encounter with Christ and one another. We need to know Christ’s heart within us so that when we are hospitable towards others, it is of a Christ-Centered nature and not what we believe people need based on our experiences and knowledge only.
Today, more than ever, we need to listen and learn God’s message of love. We are in an uphill battle to overcome a world that seeks to destroy our very essence with immoral behavior by inundating us with negative messages 24/7 so that we seek sin more often than salvation.
Following Jesus as His disciple means we understand His message and are able to share that message with others. The vehicle we used to accomplish this is not the focus. The message is.
We need to listen to God’s spirit, to keep our attention on Jesus even in the midst of our activities. When we do that, we are present! We are truly the disciples of hospitality who are there for one another and Christ, working in the trenches to make His heavenly realm succeed in the world in which we exist.
Reading 1: Second Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16a
Reading 2: Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11
Gospel: Matthew 10: 37-42
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