Blessed are the Hospitable!
Who does not like to encounter a person who is hospitable, especially when we find ourselves in a strange and unfamiliar environment? Hospitable people have their arms always open to welcome others into their circle. It is in this way that many times, they welcome angels and other divine beings without knowing, because it is part of their nature to be hospitable. Abraham, our father in faith, welcomed angels, provided them with water to wash their feet, and asked his wife to prepare delicious food for their guests. But guess what? Before the guests left, they promised Abraham that his wife would conceive in one year, even though she had passed childbearing age (Gen. 18:10). Those who are hospitable are blessed because they shall be shown hospitality, as long as the hospitality shown does not have any strings attached to it.
That is the problem with Martha in the gospel. She welcomed Jesus with her whole heart and is doing everything possible to be a good host. But her heart is full of complaints. She is agitated that she is serving the Lord, all by herself. She loses her peace and joy. Her complaining attitude takes away the grace of her hospitable disposition. Jesus calls her attention to what matters: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:41-42). Mary was hospitable to Jesus. The peace of Jesus flowed to Mary and back to Jesus. If it is Martha’s gift to serve, she should carry it out with joy and gladness. But in complaining, she lost everything. True hospitality brings peace to the giver and receiver of hospitality. This is the blessedness inherent in being hospitable. May we all use the opportunities given to us to be hospitable to people, for we may have angels as our guests without knowing.
~Fr Cornelius Okeke