3 Questions To Explore Practicing Biblical Hospitality
What image or person comes to mind when you think about hospitality? Is it hosting Sunday dinners with friends and families? Is it giving back to your local community? Is it opening your home to neighbors? The story of Jesus visiting friends Mary and Martha is a beautiful and rich one, with an invitation to reflect on Biblical hospitality. Mary and Martha are not simply opposites in this story, or examples of who to be like or not. The honesty of how they both uniquely showed up helps people to see and find themselves in both Mary and Martha.
3 Questions To Explore Practicing Biblical Hospitality
“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:38-42
Here are three questions to explore living out Biblical hospitality:
What are you preparing for? In this story, Martha prepared for that night, preparing a home-cooked meal for her dinner guests. Mary prepared for eternity, sitting at Jesus’ feet with listening and learning ears. What are you preparing for? Is your calendar ruling you or are you living intentionally, prepared to live with margin, space for the unexpected, and prioritizing relationships with God and others?
What’s the speed of your current pace? Martha’s pace was hurried and distracted, overwhelmed by details. Mary’s pace was intentionally unhurried, sitting at Jesus’ feet, curious about his teachings. The pace Martha was in made it difficult for her to simply enjoy Jesus’ company. In her eyes, there was too much to do, and not enough time to be with. Jesus said otherwise. What’s the speed of your current pace? What needs to adjust so you can be fully present to yourself, to God, and to those around you?
How present are you? Jesus’ presence was available, steady, and gracious. He was available for Martha to approach him. He was steady as he listened well to Martha’s disappointment and frustration. He was gracious in his honesty towards her. How present are you to yourself, to God, and to the people around you? What needs to change for you to show up with an available, steady, and gracious presence?
This story includes simple, daily elements of life: dinner, family, conversation. In the ordinary moments of life, Jesus’ invitation to you is to live with a hospitality marked by intentional preparation, pace, and presence. Both Mary and Martha loved Jesus deeply, and both were deeply loved by Jesus. This story of shared time together is characterized by meaningful encounter and connection with God and others!