"Hospitality always places us in the position of having to receive rather than being able to be in control...hospitality is not simply something that I offer rather hospitality means that I receive.
Hospitality in this sense is quite 'defenceless' - it lets its guard down and stands unprotected. Perhaps that is why hospitality is so difficult, because we are so fearful.
The Greek word for stranger is 'xenos'. Our English word xenophobia means fear of the stranger. If we turn this word around, we get the New Testament word for hospitality: philoexenia, love of the stranger.
Pure hospitality, like perfect love, casts out fear (iJohn 4.18)."
(Practical Theology. On Earth as It Is In Heaven, T Velling, Orbis, Pages 232-3)
Comments