The Family Fully Alive:

Being Hospitable

Fr. Pinto Paul is the International Director of the Boston-based Holy Cross Family Ministries. In this role, he oversees the programs and services at centers in 17 countries.

This month, I would like to invite you to make your families more alive by being a Hospitable Family.

As a child, I, along with my siblings, loved to have guests coming to our home. We were happy because we knew that a rooster would be prepared, and we would have the best food with special dishes and sweets. A guest coming to our home was like God coming. It was the time we were on our best behavior, especially if the guest was a priest or a nun.

We can see the roots of hospitality in the Scripture.

Abraham and others show us the way a guest should be treated. The Mosaic law tells us to “treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself” (Lev.19:33).

Jesus tells us that showing hospitality to one of the least of the brothers, is the same as showing it to Him (Mt. 25:40). Martha in the gospel is known for her hospitality. Scripture insists on the importance of a family’s hospitality. Families life-giving love can heal many broken hearts. For St. Benedict, "A Catholic home must be welcoming, orderly, and harmonious—a haven for every soul who enters."

Today, we are called to offer hospitality in God’s name graciously. Many families I have visited do just this. Their homes are welcoming, orderly, and harmonious—a haven for every soul who enters. When we visit, the entire family, including teenage children, come and sit with us and talk with us. At the dining table, the children enter into conversation and use good manners, practicing Christian hospitality.

For us Christians, the ultimate form of hospitality culminates when Christ invites us to His Table in the Eucharist, where we welcome Him into our hearts and He transforms us, and sends us out to share hospitality with others.

Are we ready to accept His hospitality and go out to share hospitality with others?

Family Activities

Play

As a family, gather with some neighbors and friends for some outdoor games. Play soccer, volleyball, or other games. Look for spontaneous opportunities to invite teammates, friends, and parents to your house for after-game snacks.

Work

As a family, discuss ways to show hospitality to someone who needs a helping hand: a person with a serious illness, a family with a new baby, a person with physical limitations, an elderly person. When you become aware of such a person implement an appropriate way to show hospitality: take a meal to his or her house, offer to do some house cleaning or yard work, offer to run some errands or drive the person to an appointment.

Talk

As a family, discuss hospitality and ways to show it. Martha showed hospitality to Jesus and Jesus said that showing hospitality to others is the same as showing hospitality to him. What is hospitality? What does St. Benedict say a Catholic home should be like in order to be hospitable? What do we do in our home to be hospitable when we have guests? How do children get involved? What do some of our friends do for us when we go to their homes?

Pray

As a family, pray to be led to someone to whom you can show hospitality. Then pray for yourself and the person as you prepare and help the person. Pray for insight into the need and for ways to meet the need. Pray for tact in offering your assistance. Pray for wisdom about repeating your offer if the need continues.