Read
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:37)

Reflect
My dear friend and I have spent the last two days rearranging furniture in my home. We have gone out and bought pillows, side tables, mugs and other household items. Actually, we haven’t. She’s pointed out items and I’ve bought them. The whole purpose of this agonizing adventure is to make my space more comfortable. I am trying to make my house a home.

I have to admit that the effort is paying off. The rooms look comfortable and feel comfortable. The house is welcoming. How strange that when one tries to make things comfortable, primarily thinking of her own comfort, her space and surroundings become comfortable to others? In fact, my space, even myself opens up to others.

Core to our Christian faith is hospitality and welcome. I wonder, though, how many of us have any hospitality to offer. Before this experience, I am not sure where a guest would have sat in my house, now I have plenty of comfortable spots. I can feel confident in inviting someone to come in and be welcomed. Do we have a comfortable space within ourselves? I think that if we do not, we cannot offer hospitality. Our welcome does not ring true to our guests. At the same time, if we have that inner comfort, it automatically opens us to others, inviting all.

Hospitality and welcome must be nurtured and developed within ourselves and lives. We must intentionally set out to make things comfortable before we can invite anyone else to be comfortable.

Respond
Look around your home and ask yourself: Is this space comfortable? Does this space welcome me? Does this space send a message of welcome to any guest? If your space is not comfortable, what can you do to make it more comfortable for you?

-Mary Koppel