This time of year, a lot of people are thinking about going home for the holidays…others of us are busy preparing to host family or friends in our own homes.
My parents, on the other hand, are just waiting for the construction on their new home to be completed, so they can actually have a home of their own again for the holidays.
It’s been a long time coming for them and I know they are just dreaming of the day when they can have a chance to host Thanksgiving again.
If I think back to holidays past…I can see it now, my mom in the kitchen making her melt-in-your-mouth meatballs, yeast rolls that are as big as your head, and of course her famous cherry cheesecake — basically a feast fit for a king! (with enough left overs to feed an entire royal army…😂). Her philosophy? You have to “cook with love.” 💕
All the while, every year my dad is busy incessantly refilling everyone’s glass of sweet tea (especially his own, ahem 🙄) and simultaneously adding in corny dad-jokes like, “I’m a heavy drinker” and “I’ll eat you all.” (It’s a long story, but yes that last one actually happened 😂). I think that’s why it took so long for my sister and me to find a steady boyfriend growing up — or at least that’s what I’ll blame it on. 🤣
Most people, myself included, think of hospitality as having people into their homes. But the other day, the preacher at our church explained what the Biblical view of hospitality really means based on the original Greek word…and it actually made a whole lot of sense.
He explained that the Greek word for hospitality is actually a compound word, “philio-xenia” (hope I spelled that right, Brother Bill🤞).
“Philio” simply means “love” — Not a romantic kind of love, but more of a brotherly love. That word may sound familiar, since one of our American cities is actually named for it: Philadelphia…the city of brotherly love. ❤️
The second half of the word, “xenia” may not sound quite as familiar to you (actually, to me it sounds like a Japanese brand of TVs or something, but google says otherwise…🤷♀️). Anyway, this Greek word actually means “stranger.”
🤔 Aha! Just as I suspected…it turns out my parents have had this whole hospitality thing down pat all along! — Mom’s in the kitchen cooking with love, while Dad’s in the living room saying stranger things than any of the guests have ever heard. What more could be more hospitable than that??? 😂😂😂
😉 But seriously…by putting “brotherly love” and “stranger” together, you get the true meaning of hospitality — showing love to strangers.
The word “philioxenia” is used many times in the Bible and the sentiment of showing love to strangers is echoed even more frequently:
In Matthew 5:43-47 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”
Wow! The whole idea of hospitality really gets turned on it’s head when you start to think of it as more than just inviting friends and family over to show them a good time.
In fact, the true meaning of hospitality was perfectly demonstrated in the love Christ showed for us on the cross —in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8-11) A sinner is not just a stranger in God’s eyes, as these verses go on to say — a sinner is actually an enemy of God himself. 😱
And yet Christ died for sinners…for strangers…for enemies…in what was the ultimate act of love and hospitality.
So this Thanksgiving, let’s remember that hospitality means so much more than a beautifully set table and a perfectly roasted Turkey (and sides😋).
Opening your home is one way to show love to strangers (I Peter 4:9), but it’s certainly not the only way.
We don’t even need a physical home to be hospitable…we just need to have humble, loving hearts that are willing to invite people into them — showing them the same kind of love, mercy, and grace that Christ has so graciously shown to us.
Because…as forgiving as your favorite stretchy pants are after Thanksgiving dinner — they can never compare to the forgiveness found in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Praise God for that. 🙏❤️🙏
Until next time…
-PWAP