The hospitality of giving

Jesus asks us daily to take up our Cross and follow Him. The cross was the first symbol marked on your forehead at Baptism, with the prayer that you would daily take up your cross and also know the help of others and be willing to help others with their cross.

Our Gospel of St. Matthew clearly states: “Whoever does not take up the cross is not worthy of Christ.” Perhaps no better prayer then the Prayer of St. Francis expresses the value of giving and being for others as most important for the Christian, not just receiving.

“Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon and where there’s doubt, true faith. Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, only light and where there’s sadness, ever joy. May I not seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.”

Hospitality is love in action, for what we do to the least of God’s people, we do for God Himself!

This week we celebrate Independence Day, a day to be grateful to the Lord and to all who have worked and given their lives for us to have our freedoms. We as Americans treasure our freedoms, but we fail to appreciate them if we think freedom is doing anything you want.

A sailboat is a good example of what is true and real freedom. In sailing, it is important that you keep your hand on the tiller and keep the sail at the right angle to the wind. If you let the boat go free, it would be as disaster! If you are not in control of the boat and what you are doing, the wind is not always a friend of the sailor. A wrong turn into the wind and you will get blown over!

We have to be and act responsibly to sail and find peace and happiness and true freedom in the wind! As people given the gift of freedom by the sacrifice of others, we are challenged to act responsibly and to not fall victim to any breezes.

We cannot live only for ourselves! A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow human beings, and we are only as rich as we give and share with each other. Be a stranger who comes out of nowhere, out of the woodwork, when a person needs help.

You may help with money, time, skill or a kind word to protect another from disaster or danger by even offering a cup of cold water. We have all heard stories of people who quietly help others, like the dentist who filled a college student’s tooth even when she had no money or medical plan to help. He told her, “Sit down and I’ll do the job on credit and you can give another person help after you graduate and have a job.”

Little things mean a lot, both for the good and the bad of a relationship, and for hospitality and freedom.

Think about the couple who went to a marriage counselor and the woman said that the problem was her husband thinks, breathes and listens to only sports all year round.

The hubby replied, “I’m not that bad. You are exaggerating.”

The counselor said to the man,, “Well, tell me, how long have you been married to her?”

The husband replied, “40 seasons!”