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Opening Prayer
My Lord of Love,
grant me the courage and insight
to be impatient when such impatience is needed
in response to those who, in your name,
speak and spread unlove.
For I know that my kindness can be
a betrayal of your call for me
to stand and speak against
all forms of injustice.
May I know you, intimately,
not simply as the sweet, kind Jesus,
but the God who stood, and stands,
and without apology, against all forms
of human prejudice.
*Brian K. Wilcox
Scripture for Today ~ Matthew 11.18-19 (CEV)
18John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking [wine], and you said, "That man has a demon in him!" 19But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking [wine], and you say, "That man eats and drinks too much [wine]! He is even a friend of tax collectors and sinners." Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.
Tax collectors were fellow Jews working for the Romans, collecting taxes and gathering excess for themselves. They were considered traitors. Sinners referred to all who did not measure up to the political-moral-religious standards. As today in fundamentalist faith, the political and moral and religious are bound together in a complex web of definition of what is and is not true faith, and in a way that excludes everyone except the fundamentalists. This is a way that Christian fundamentalism and Islamic fundamentalism are next door neighbors in ideology. Two forms of extremism are such fundamentalisms; while each judges the other, each is alike in spirit, though different in means of implementation of their complex strategies to take over the world ~ as in, all others.
Today's Thought
When we define Christian hospitality by any other norm than Christ Himself, we have ceased being Christian.
*Brian K. Wilcox
Wisdom Story ~ The Abbot Who Welcomed Christ
The aged Abbot welcomed to the monastery those the church esteemed to be among the irreligious sort of persons. He would often be seen welcoming such a person to sit with him in the monastery garden or leading such a one into his little cell for tea and conservation. He would spend hours talking with such men. Even worse said many, he would entertain such women at the monastery. Indeed, he did entertain men and women alike.
His reputation for doing this grew outside the monastery walls. This brought more such visitors. Also his actions brought more concern from church leadership, who considered his openness to violate the sanctity and purpose of monastic life.
One of the younger monks risked asking the Abbot about this matter. The risk was because the Abbot, while being usually a kind man, had a reputation for being stern and impatient with some matters.
"Father," the monk spoke, "forgive me, but may I ask you a question?" After consent, the monk asked, "Father, why do you risks the reputation of our monastery and censure of the church by entertaining outsiders considered irreligious?"
The Abbot replied, bluntly, saying, "Son, a much greater risk than what you speak of is my not entertaining Christ when He comes to receive hospitality at this monastery."
"But," said the befuddled monk, "I've not seen Christ come to this monastery to find hospitality."
"Then, my son," the Abbot spoke, "I pray that one day you will be able to see."
*Story by Brian K. Wilcox.
Suggested Reflections
What is a meaning of the above story for you? The churches?
Who is Christ? Where is Christ?
What does it mean to show hospitality to Christ?
Are you willing to welcome Christ, even if it entails risking your reputation before those religious persons who seek to define the boundaries of Christian hospitality?
See next page for Invitation to writer's contemplative village, purpose of OneLife, data on ordering author's book and upcoming devotionals 2008, and material on citations.
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