The Importance of Hospitality and Radically Inclusive Love

This past Sunday, two people experiencing homelessness came to me and offered to take me to dinner. This act of kindness reminded me of the importance of hospitality and radically inclusive love.

 

At its core, hospitality is about welcome. It is about creating a space where everyone feels like they belong. It is about recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every person. And it is about extending grace to those who need it most.

 

When we practice hospitality, we open our hearts to others. We invite them in, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. We listen to their stories and get to know them as people, not just as objects or commodities. And we offer whatever help and support we can, without expecting anything in return.

 

The practice of hospitality is rooted in our faith tradition. In the Bible, we are instructed to welcome the stranger, for we were once strangers ourselves (Matthew 25:35). Jesus himself was a homeless wanderer, dependent on the generosity of others for his survival. And yet, despite his own poverty, he always made time for interruptions and invitations. He ate with those that society shunned. He healed the sick and welcomed children. He was always extending grace to those who needed it most.

 

This idea of radical inclusion is at the heart of Christianity. It is a love that does not discriminate or judge. It is a love that sees the best in people, even when they don’t see it in themselves. It is a love that meets people where they are and accepts them for who they are.