Today, consider this scripture and response:
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Many of you will recognize in this text the three moves of hospitality: entering in, staying, and sending forth. These important people enter this humble place, find welcome. In response, they give the young king welcome into their world. They kneel so as to stay in his presence, if only for a while. Overwhelmed with the richness of relationship with royalty, they offer in return token gifts of the richest resources they could imagine. Finally, though this infant monarch has yet to speak, his messengers send these wise men forth with a gift of news that keeps them safe on their journey home. In return, the wise men respect the vulnerability of the child by keeping their silence until his parents can remove him to a place of safety.
The coming of God into our midst is an amazing act of hospitality. If we seek to imitate this hospitable God, we must be willing both to receive, as well as give, hospitality. If we wish to heed the words and the life of Jesus, then we must be willing to let even little children act as our hosts. After all, who would you rather have as your host: King Herod, living out his older years in great opulence; or the baby Jesus, living within the most humble of means?
Accepting the hospitality of children may force us to change the way that we see the world. Such hospitality may, on occasion, require us to drink imaginary tea out of impossibly small cups; it may necessitate being very still while little hands which have yet to acquire skill paint our toenails. Yet if we but humble ourselves, who knows what blessings will be ours?
Blessings,
Ron
