One of the most important qualities I learned from my parents was hospitality. The word hospitality means receiving people as your guest. My mother and father received people into our home without question. I can’t remember any of my friends not being welcomed into our home and feeling part of the family. It’s no surprise to me that I worked in hospital ministry for over 25 years. Do you see the connection? “Hospital” is a derivation of “hospital-ity.“ In other words, I learned the importance of hospitality for others so clearly that I chose a ministry that is based upon hospital-ity. When Jesus speaks about receiving people in today’s Gospel, He is speaking about being hospitable to others. For when we show this quality to others, they more easily experience the love and welcome of Jesus from us in their hearts. We see in this weekend’s scripture the power of hospitality and how much it means to God. In the first reading the prophet Elisha needed a room to stay in and some food to eat. The woman in the Gospel, quickly welcomes him to dine and stay overnight in her home. He needed sustenance and rest from his difficult labor. The next day, Elisah wants to repay her for her kindness, and asks one of her friends: “Can something be done for her?” “Yes” says the friend: “She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.” Elisha says: “Call her.” In the name of God, he promises her: “This time next year you will be fondling a baby son.” And it happens. Do you see the power of the woman’s hospitality at work? God loves her so much because she received Elisha with such kindness and openness, that He rewards her with what she always wanted. The Gospel today also follows through with God rewarding people for simply giving a cup of cold water to drink to someone who is thirsty. The theme that keeps coming up in St. Matthew’s Gospel is how powerfully God rewards Pure Love & Pure Generosity. These are such important signs of hospitality that we are to practice, that Jesus says they are more important that loving one’s own family. In today’s world, we are in a crisis. So many countries refuse hospitality to immigrants and refugees. Leaders of countries have put fear in the people’s minds that most are criminals and should not be welcomed. How sad the world has become. May we continue to pray for renewal of mind and heart, so that we will get back to doing Jesus’ work of welcoming the stranger.      ~ Fr. John