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recently lost patience with a person I was speaking with and snapped at them angrily. Later that same day, I started out being pleasant and patient with a telemarketer but after a bit became angry and YELLED at him. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, but mine was not much in evidence that day.

The very next day, I read an essay about hospitality, which I have always thought I am a failure at because nobody ever comes to my house. This essay quoted one of Benedict’s rules for the Benedictine monks, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”

Well, that certainly gave me food for thought. I am to welcome them “as Christ” — the Christ who said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) And by “brothers and sisters,” he meant people. Not just believers; any people.

And “guests who present themselves.” Perhaps this doesn’t mean just people who enter my house, but those who enter my SPACE — the people I encounter throughout the day, anywhere and everywhere. People I have contact with, in person or yes, even on the telephone. Or on social media.

How different would my life be if I start to speak to people the way I would speak to Jesus if he was standing in front of me? If he was the other person in the phone call? Would I be embarrassed for him to hear the things I say to people, or read the things I write to people?

 

It seems that hospitality, like my faith, is not just actions like welcoming guests to my house. It is my attitude. There may be some social rules to follow — just as God has commandments for me to follow. But the Bible makes it clear it’s not just about following rules. The important thing is my attitude while I follow them. Do I treat others with an attitude of love and caring, or an attitude of annoyance and impatience?

 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 that even his noblest actions were worth nothing if he did them without love. And John reported that before Jesus was arrested, he told them, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

 

In thinking about it, I realize that I have always assumed this was a command to love my fellow Christians. But thinking about this got me thinking about his ministry, and I realized that Jesus loved everyone he met, not just his disciples. And he expects me to do the same.

 

In fact, he added, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Well, if we love only the people in our own little group, how would that tell anyone we are his disciples? We’d only be like all the rest of the world. 

 

It’s pretty clear he meant for us to show love to everyone. “If you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?” he asked. “Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:47-48)

 

We are meant to stand out from the world, to light the way for everyone. The one clear way to do that is to demonstrate God’s love to everyone. Not just in big things, like preaching or being a missionary or serving food at a food kitchen, but in all the small everyday things. Like not getting irritated and cranky with people.

 

Peter advised us to humble ourselves “under God’s mighty hand.” Well, thinking about how I treated those poor people on the phone had me feeling mighty humble. But God has provided a remedy. I confessed to him, repented, and asked for his help to do better. Because that is another lesson I have learned: He does not expect us to follow any of these commandments on our own power. We’d never be able to do it. We can manage it only with his help.