Hospitality. Humility. (2023-07-02, Sunday - 13)

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Homily file for July 2, 2023   13^th Sunday (Year A)  ● 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 ● Psalm 89 ● Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 ● Matthew 10:37-42 ●

 Title:  Hospitality, Humility

[_00-a__]   I would like to make a connection in God’s Word today between hospitality and humility.

          Many years ago, there was a book by a famous restaurant owner in New York called “Setting the Table” in which the author shares ways in which hospitality can be extraordinary. Some think that he set the bar, the standard, too high.

          This was a particularly good experience of one customer and his family/friends at NYC Manhattan restaurant.  When he arrived at the restaurant, he was upset because he realized that he just left his cell phone, mobile phone, in the taxi. 2 workers at the restaurant jumped into action.

          Worker # 1 calmed down the group, and got everyone seated. Worker # 2 dialed the customer’s number and the taxi driver picked up the phone, but in this case could not drive directly back to the restaurant. I suppose he was already driving in a different direction with a new passenger.

          Worker # 2 had to go out and met the taxi driver at an unfamiliar NYC location. Fortunately, the worker # 2 safely went out and returned.

          But, one writer asked – what is the true value of and true cost of such “hospitality”?

          In this case, the restaurant received outstanding reviews and publicity for being so hospitable and helpful to a customer in need. But, what is the method or motivation of hospitality?

          In a business - and sometimes even in a family or among friends – we show hospitality in order to make a name or reputation for ourselves.

[_00-b__]   The recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that we give thanks to those “heroes” – women and men – by whom we are served in many service-oriented businesses – in food service, restaurants, food delivery, supermarkets.

          While many of us stayed home for extended periods in 2020 and 2021,  we were able to do so only because others did not stay home. They also took risks in order to show hospitality.

          This virtue of hospitality and service was not limited to dining and food service but also existed among countless health care workers, nurses and doctors, technicians, hospital workers and first responders in police, fire, EMS.

         

[_01__]       What we encounter in our biblical readings today are examples of God’s call to hospitality as a virtue which is also a call to humility.

          The author C.S. Lewis of England in the 20^th century wrote that humility, as a virtue, is not simply the opposite of notoriety or wealth.  “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; humility is thinking of yourself less.”  I.e., the humble person puts someone else’s needs ahead of her or his own.

[_02__]   In the selected verses from 2^nd Kings, chapter 4, we read about the prophet Elisha.  Prophet  Elisha is the beneficiary of one woman’s hospitality.

          She thought very highly of him and was going out of her way, together with her family to provide for Elisha. She does not want to send him to a hotel, but will provide in her own house.

          One commentator noted that poor people at this point in history and in this place would have often sat on the floor to rest. But, this woman is prepared to give Elisha not only a room but also a bed, table, chair, and lamp.  Fully furnished. If Elisha had been in a Verizon or Comcast house, he would been given the wi-fi password.

          In short, the woman of 2^nd Kings wanted her important guest to have a mind-blowing experience.

          That’s good, but Jesus reminds us that real hospitality and humility is not about material comfort or luxury.

 [_03__]       In the Gospel, we read our Lord’s view and “review” of true hospitality and humility that just a simple drink of water makes an impact:

“Whoever goes only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”  (Matthew 10:41-42)

[_04__]    Jesus says “cold water” not because you should bring a chilled beverage to a thirsty priest if she should stop at your house on Valley Way, but rather because “cold water” – in ancient times – represents water in its natural state.  That is, the water was not boiled or heated by the fire.

          Simplicity in giving is a good thing.

          Consider in the Gospel the widow at the Temple in whom we see the an act generosity that for her was a “large transaction”, because she gave all she had.

[_05__]   I am not suggesting that we must all empty our bank accounts for the next charitable cause or collection.

          Yet, we are called to ask ourselves –each time – did I do everything I could?

[_06__]  In terms of hospitality, we are are also called to consider that Jesus is the guest we are trying to welcome. This situation of Christ as the guest was famously recognized by the Roamn centurion soldier, not a Jewish believer but rather, by our standards, an atheist who said, “Lord I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” (Gospel reference ???)

           This soldier was welcoming Jesus but also recognizing his own worthiness.

What are you and I to do when we feel unworthy of a visitor or guest?

          In material and physical terms, we might change our clothes, do the dishes, and/or vacuum the living room.

          Elisha, the prophet of 2^nd Kings, has been a visitor before, challenging his people to reform and – in several cases – saving them from disaster.

          In one instance, Elisha successfully saved the people from the combined forces of both a dangerous storm and an enemy army.  Similar to the forecasts of the past week, the land was in danger of being flooded.

          Elisha urged them to get to work to dig deep trenches, ditches, in the desert so as to capture the coming rain.  His people do not want to dig, but they are persuaded. It is an example of a community doing all it can to receive God’s grace and mercy.

          We also are called to dig, to explore, to go beneath the surface of our lives to receive God’s grace and mercy for our sins.

          For we are not called to collect trophies, rewards or nice reviews of our hospitality.

          Rather, in the act of repenting of our sins, of going to confession, we are digging and going beneath the surface.

In our parish archives, I recall reading that the ground for this church was first broken by volunteers who came out with shovels to dig in the earth.

          While we do confess our sins “solo” and in person, it is helpful to know that others also turn to God for grace and mercy. So, we spread the good news not just by being forgiven but by demonstrating humility in the act of repentance. It is a teamwork  of digging to collect all this water of mercy.

          The purpose of this digging and repentance is not bring us to judgment and shame, but to alert us that there is nothing you and I have done which is beyond God’s mercy and love.

          Paul summarizes this in writing to the church at Rome, in Romans ch. 6 that we have been buried with Christ in baptism, but by digging deeper in our prayer, and repentance, and fasting and acts of love, we allow God’s mercy to fill us so that we might serve Him in hospitality and humility.  [_END__]