Peaceful Hospitality
Scripture: Luke 10:1-12
The real work has begun. Jesus is sending out his disciples into the world to become something more than just learners. These disciples have seen enough and the time has come to put it into practice. In the same way, hospitality is just one way of describing Christians who have gone from just learning about loving our neighbor to actually investing our lives and making time for them in our busy schedules.
While this may be a daunting task, what is most surprising in this passage is Jesus’ advice for this task summed up in the words “as lambs amongst wolves.” Why is this surprising? We can think of 3 reasons:
1. Lambs are needy
Contrary to wolves who are relatively self-sufficient and able to care for themselves, lambs are incredibly needy. They’re constantly wandering off and needing someone to guide and protect them. Is it surprising then that Jesus calls his disciples to be likewise as he sends them into the world? In a world full of wolves, where everyone is trying to live from a position of strength and independence, Jesus wants his disciples to stand out by being vulnerable enough to lean on the help of others. He says to his disciples to “carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.'“ In other words, in offering the hospitality of God they are to welcome the hospitality of others. They are to meet people where they are at and be vulnerable themselves. This is often counterintuitive to how we perceive hospitality. Usually, hospitality is what happens when you welcome someone to your home and you are the one with something to offer. Opposite this, Jesus understands that true hospitality is a two-way street that is humble enough to let the other person be in a position of strength.
2. Lambs are peaceful
In 1 Samuel 25, we’re told the story of David and Nabal where David is hospitable to a group of Nabal’s sheep and shepherds. After protecting them so they could get home safely, David hoped for Nabal to return the favor by offering David and his men some food and shelter. To David’s surprise and frustration, Nabal gives the opposite reaction by hurling insults at David and refusing him hospitality. As the story goes, it takes Nabal’s wife, Abigail, to quell the situation and prevent it from escalating. To Jesus’ disciples, the words offered in his advice, “Peace be to this house”, would have instantly echoed the story of David and Nabal. After all, these were the exact words David told his men to say to Nabal when they arrived at his house. In this world where wolves can sometimes be unpredictable and volatile, Jesus wants his disciples to be a peaceful presence regardless of the circumstances. Whether our hospitality is welcomed or not, like water off of a duck’s back, the peace that we are called to carry is resilient and not dependent on acceptance.
3. Lambs are targets
Lastly, it goes without saying that wolves and lambs don’t exactly get along. In fact, for the many wolves in our world, lambs are often targets. This is important because it’s clear that Jesus isn’t distressed by this fact. The question is, are we? Are we anxious about our hospitality? How will it be received or judged? Maybe we’ve had poor experiences in the past. If that’s you, Jesus’ message is that you’re not alone in your journey of loving your enemies. Notice how he sent out his disciples in groups of 2. Jesus never intends for hospitality to be a lonely endeavor. The promise of Psalm 23 is that if we follow the Good Shepherd we will always be by streams of water even if we find ourselves at a table with enemies. This means that we can feel safe knowing that he is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. Indeed, the beauty of the Christian life is that you can be a lamb amongst wolves and, thankfully, still feel safe.
Study questions:
What steps can you take in your life to “put into practice” hospitality?
Do you find it difficult to be in a position of need? Why is that?
Have you ever had a bad experience offering hospitality? How did it feel?
How can we better practice a more peaceful hospitality?
What does it mean to emphasize the importance of community and not undertaking hospitality as a "lonely endeavor"?
