At Christmas we are reminded that hospitality unlocked the gates of heaven. Hospitality means welcoming strangers, and we see it repeatedly in the story of Jesus’ birth. Mary is pleased to host the Son of God. Elizabeth hosts Mary and is filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary and Joseph are hosted in a stable in Bethlehem, where their child is then born. In turn, the shepherds are hosted by Mary and Joseph who bring the news that Jesus is the Saviour and Messiah. Throughout God’s story, showing hospitality to vulnerable human beings is highly valued. In fact it draws those who do it into the hospitality of God - that is into his saving welcome.
The public mood today can sometimes feel far from this. So often, the welcome of strangers seems overshadowed by the fear of them. The nativity shows us people willing to take risks with strangers. Mary had to trust the angel, despite how his message would sound to her family. Elizabeth welcomed a woman who, in first century culture, was likely to be ‘cancelled.’ She certainly would have felt public shame because of her pregnancy out of marriage. Mary and Joseph welcomed the shepherds unannounced, in the middle of the night.
But as well as hearing and seeing God in new and unexpected ways, hospitality provides a natural and fitting way to introduce people to Jesus. I spoke to a man recently who had converted from Islam to Christianity. His testimony was simple: “Once hospitality had opened that one door of my heart, all the doors were open.” I pray that this might be our experience this Christmas.
Comments