Hospitality. How do we treat or welcome others? This is the question James' letter puts before us today. There is a truly challenging sentence for most Americans.
"Listen, my dear brothers (and sisters): it was those whoa re poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith, and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him" (2:5).
Most of us, if we are honest, are not poor. Most 0f us live with so much more than we ever need. Isn't moving from one home to another proof? More often than our hearts, our desires, are taken over by the ways of our culture, our society. How often does a feeling of "I need that" express more what I would "like to have" than actual need?
We might consider a man, woman or child who is truly in need. Walk the streets of a downtown or center city. There, without fail, the poor are present to us. How does their presence impact you --- even if they do not shake a cup or hold up a sign that asks for your help? Do you see a sister or brother in need? Or, is there a feeling of distrust, disgust or annoyance that grabs your heart and mind?
If you were to come upon a successful CEO, a respectable media or film personality, would you be more open to exchanging a few words? If it were a John McCain, a Hillary Clinton or a Barack Obama, wouldn't you like to have a camera available? Yet, time and again, Jesus called us to the most challenging human activity: love one another, love your neighbor as yourself.
One particular experience that reveals how genuine our live is for others is demonstrated by how we dine together, where the head of the household and the guest(s) are seated. Often the dining table has the traditional "head of the table." That speaks of separation from all of the others seated at the table except for those immediately to the right or left of the "head."
Dining with two Church leaders, I came to a new understanding of genuine hospitality --- the sign of respect for guests and others at the table. The "head" never sat at the traditional "head of the table position. Rather each of these leaders would always sit in a middle position along one side of the table, reserving the position directly opposite for the guest. After a first experience of this seating arrangement, it was clear that the host was allowing others at the table to become more directly involved with both the host and the guest. The guest was offered an equal place at the table with the host. Both were able to speak with all the others at the table equally.
Surely this is not a theological teaching here. Nonetheless it shows the reality of welcome and hospitality that is portrayed in every picture of Jesus with his disciples at the Last Supper. Perhaps that is why the round table makes a dinner so much more meaningful. No partiality is shown. No distinction of presumed "greatness" is shown. At the table we learn we are one.
Let Fr. Nouwen's reflection conclude these thoughts:
Instead of making us feel that we are better,
more precious or valuable
than others,
our awareness of being chosen
opens our eyes
to the chosenness
of others.
Apologies for there being no reflection yesterday. It was "one of those days." Enuf sed!
