Homily for Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our gospel reading today is a collection of the 'sayings of Jesus' as they were remembered in a particular community. Matthew is gathering together those particular instructions that he judges to be important for disciples. Some of the sayings are eminently humanitarian ('anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me.'), others however smack of narrow-minded fanaticism ('anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me'). That last injunction would appear to cut right across our most natural inclinations and better instincts! So what is Jesus up to when he makes such unnatural demands on his disciples? Luke has a more elaborate treatment of the same topic, and it will give us a clear indication as to why the kindly Jesus would seem to make such unkindly demands. Luke's account contains the following: "If you reserve your greeting for your brother who will return it, what virtue is there in that? If you love those who love you, what credit can you expect? Even pagans do as much, do they not? If you lend to those from whom you know there will be a return, what great virtue is there in that? Even pagans do that much...." and so on. Jesus is living in a tribal society where an individuals responsibility and obligations extended only to members of ones own tribe. The love that he is advocating, while it applies to blood and tribal relations, it is not at all confined to those with whom we have a natural affinity. The love Christ is advocating is universal; it extends to all men and women, even those beyond our own tribe who in all likelihood hate us.
The next step in the teaching is a logical follow-on from what he has already established. 'Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me...Anyone who gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones will most certainly not lose his reward.' Jesus here echoes the generosity of the woman to the stranger found in our first reading today. St. Paul, writing to the Romans, makes a list of the principal obligations facing the Christian: "In the service of the Lord, work not half-heartedly but with an eager spirit...Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship, pray regularly, share with those in need and make hospitality your special care."
We Irish once had (still have, I hope) a reputation for hospitality. It was actually built into our language. In emphasising this aspect of our Irishness, Bord Failte was playing to our strengths. And the reputation was authentic; neighbour did (and do) look out for each other. However, as the pace of life accelerates, hospitality becomes more and more difficult. The pattern of Irish hospitality has completely changed. A hospitality that was once spontaneous and instinctive is now largely prearranged. Unscheduled visits are not much welcomed any more. Sometimes they are greatly resented. 'Wouldn't you think they'd give us a ring? Do they think we have nothing else to do?' Because many couples work outside the home now; because 'soaps' are in the ascendant from about half-six to half-eight; because the character on the box is the modern equivalent of the neighbour; because an early start in the morning requires an early resort to the bed, many homes are almost inaccessible now. People don't visit as much as they did, in the local community anyway. If the pattern of our lives is making a stranger of hospitality, is it not time to take stock? If developments in modern life are insulating us from neighbours and friends, should we not consciously reverse that trend? A pause for a chat, a ring on the phone, a visit to a hospital, an invitation to the house, the rediscovery of the teapot, some contribution to the life of the community - aren't these things of some importance? Is time well spent if little or none of it is given to the neighbour? Turning to the neighbour is not turning back the clock; it's simply turning to the gospel. All hospitality is Christ centred! 'Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me' (Mt 10:40).
In the modern world, we also need to broaden our concept of hospitality. One obvious issue touching on hospitality today is of course the plight of refugees in our midst, refugees form eastern Europe and from Africa. They have responsibilities towards us, but we, as a more privileged group, have our responsibilities towards them. If you want to get a big crowd at a meeting anywhere, let the suggestion be made that refugees are being housed locally. Hospitality? It means welcoming refugees and coloured people into our country, in the same way as we were welcomed into countries like America and Australia and, dare we say it, Britain. It means welcoming people of different religions or no religion into our hearts. The Roman Empire wouldn't tolerate Christianity. Wouldn't it be a terrible irony if Christianity turned round and wouldn't tolerate others, because of the colour of their skin, their racial background or their religious beliefs? Hospitality is not just about cups of tea, or giving wealthy American the directions to Killarney with a smile on your face. More centrally, its about tolerance and understanding. Some of the things hospitality doesn't welcome are snobbery, or prejudice, or hate.
Finally, the most important person we need to welcome into our lives is Our Lord himself - not just as a nice man but as Lord of our lives! In one sense it's easy to welcome him, because he's so inspiring and loveable and compassionate. In another sense it's not easy at all because he brings his commandments with him: 'If you love me you will keep my commandments' Jn 14:15). If you welcome me, welcome my commandments. If we accept him, we have to accept the moral package that comes with him - the honesty and justice and truth and integrity and the nobility. But he, like others, comes into our life at a price. Ironically, if he remains a stranger, he will always make us uncomfortable and uneasy. But if we get used to him through some semblance of prayer and a sacramental life, he will cease to be a threat and become a friend. However, that is a long way off....our first step is to begin with the strangers and progress to recognising them as brothers and sisters...and then...and here is the sting....begin to treat them as such. We are saved by a cup of cold water!