A transformative gift of grace

IN the ancient world, hospitality was one of the pillars of virtue upon which the world rested. Over the years of my ministry, I have thought a lot about hospitality. It is subtly different from friendliness.

In scripture, the theme of hospitality crops up regularly. Abraham and Sarah welcome three strangers at the Oaks of Mamre and God makes his Covenant with Abraham and his descendants. In the Gospel, two of Jesus’s disciples offer hospitality to a stranger they meet on the road to Emmaus. As they break bread together, they realise that they have met the risen Jesus and their “hearts burned within them”.

Offering a welcome that is sincere and open brings a blessing, a transformative gift of grace to those who show it. In other words, genuine hospitality changes those who offer it. As congregations, how hospitable are we? It is always hard to judge ourselves. I have often heard people say, “We are a friendly congregation, all are welcome”.

Sometimes, it has felt, however, that friendliness is not quite enough. Hospitality transforms the giver. It is important when we think of mission that we do not overlook the need for mission to the Church. The Church needs transformation in these days.

I have sometimes feared that our friendliness can be conditional, almost as though we are saying to people, “you are welcome, come and be like us”. Of course, we would never say that out loud, but sometimes we resist the idea that we need to change too as Christians, as much as we seek the transformation of those we welcome.

There is an old Celtic rune, “Often, often, often, Christ comes in the stranger’s guise”. There will always be more to learn about Christ on our journey of faith and it is clear that, as Christians and as congregations, our vision of Christ’s purpose is always leading us forward into newness.

Over the summer, I led a group of pilgrims to Geneva, the place where Jean Calvin preached. John Knox spent some time ministering there, too. We had to change our plans unexpectedly and I had to rearrange a communion service at the last minute. I wandered into one of the oldest churches in Geneva, Espace Madeleine, renowned for its welcoming, ecumenical spirit where denominational differences do not matter.

I asked if I could offer communion to my pilgrim group there. Before I knew it, the person who welcomed me said, “Of course, we are open to all”. Seconds later, she was showing me the kitchen, where to find the communion cups and all that we would need. It was an overwhelming offer of hospitality.

Near where we now live, a beautiful little pre-Reformation church had to close. The Catholic Church has taken over the building and now, in the middle of each week, an ecumenical service takes place. Members of the former Church of Scotland congregation attend and my friend who goes along feels that new life has come to a much-cherished place of worship. In addition, new friendships are forming.

“ Offering a welcome that is sincere and open brings a blessing, a transformative gift of grace to those who show it.

When we are prepared to let go of embedded habits and ways of being, new things can emerge, hope is rekindled and we discover that our spiritual nourishment comes not so much from loyalty to our institutions but from the living Spirit of Christ, who is certainly not in decline.

This is a challenging time for congregations everywhere, but it is also a time for embracing the new and opening ourselves to the transformative power of genuine hospitality which promises to change us as much as those to whom we offer a welcome.