Open Heart: Reflections on Hospitality
"The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Matthew 8:20), and yet Jesus was arguably the most hospitable man to walk earth.
When I read the Gospels, I am struck by how Jesus sees people. He isn't afraid to be associated with the lowest and most marginalized in society. And not just to be seen with them, but to affirm their dignity. To reach out and touch them. Jesus' touch brings life and healing, even to those deemed unworthy and unhealable (Matthew 9:18-26). His presence resurrects all that is dead within us, and invites us to freedom and newness.
Jesus' invitation to freedom is the heart of hospitality. We embrace His invitation by saying to others: "Come, sit. I see you. Tell me your burdens so you don't have to carry them alone. Tell me where it hurts so I can help you heal. You can be free. Bring your fullness here, where you are seen and known. I will not run away from you in your mistakes and pain. I am broken too. I might not understand yet, but will you help me understand? You are worth knowing. You are worthy of being loved. I love you."
Hospitality is not a place, it's a person. It is the person of Jesus who whispers all of these things to our broken and weary hearts. He is the one who sees us and loves us even in the midst of our pain and our mess. He is the one who invites us into freedom and wholeness. Into healing.
As followers of Jesus, we carry His love and his very Spirit in our hearts. We, too, become this voice, this invitation to freedom. We can be hospitable people in the grocery store, at the sporting event, on the phone, and in our homes when we offer the One who is the Word of Life. When we listen, try to understand in part, and point to the One who understands fully.
Hospitality is not measured by how successful the dinner party is, who accepts the invitation, or even how many friends you have to invite. Hospitality is not connected to how good your food is, or to how big, beautiful, and comfortable your home is. Remember, Jesus didn't even own a home. Hospitality is measured by how big and open your heart is.
I love hospitality because it is a constant invitation to a life of freedom. Jesus' arms are always open to me, and the freedom I experience in His presence makes me come alive. In turn, I can extend the same invitation to others to be welcomed, seen, and known. While I love creating comfortable spaces to host people, the best thing I have to offer is a wide open, loving, and hospitable heart—Jesus' heart for every person.