Humanity of Jesus
Opening prayer:
“How should one live? Live Welcoming to all.”
Mechthild of Magdeburg, medieval mystic
Leader:
During our Associate panel on Associates and Sisters Day, the importance of “hospitality” was always present. Although our Associate panelists prepared separately, they all focused at some point on how Saint Angela’s spirit of hospitality is present when they interact with the Sisters, with other Associates, or in their community service. Yet, in reading the Counsels, Legacies and Rule, it’s apparent that Angela didn’t say anything about hospitality.
In its purest definition, hospitality means to invite someone into your home and make them feel welcome. Perhaps because Angela always lived in other people’s homes once she founded her Company, it was difficult for her to invite people over? But this lack of direction in her writings should actually inspire us. It means that everything the Ursuline Sisters and Associates believe about Angela’s desire for us to be hospitable derives from the way Angela lived her life, and offered as a model to move forward.
Our four formation sessions for this coming year will focus on what Angela can teach us about Welcoming, Acceptance, Belonging and Empowerment. Today’s session is on Welcoming.
Reader 1:
“When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them – some food, a place in our homes, our time – not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched. I am well aware that when someone needing food knocks at your door, you always find a way of sharing food; as the proverb says, one can always ‘add more water to the beans!’ Is it possible to add more water to the beans? … Always? … And you do so with love, demonstrating that true riches consist not in materials things, but in the heart!”
Pope Francis
Reader 2: “The more we feel concern for others and seek their well-being, the more friends we will have and the more welcome we will feel.”
Dalai Lama
Leader:
“In a divided world, one thing we can do is offer hospitality.” That was said during Associates and Sisters Day. Our first step is to make people feel welcome, which leads to a sense of safety and comfort. Maybe it’s a meal. Maybe it’s the first day at school or a new job. Maybe it’s your first day in a new country. If people don’t feel welcome, they won’t stay long enough to find out what could come next. Consider these questions among your group:
- What are ways that people help you feel welcome?
- What are some examples that you’ve tried to help others feel welcome?
Reader 3:
“For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Matthew 25:35
Reader 4:
“We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We all belong to this family, this human family, God’s family.”
Desmond Tutu
Leader:
People in need of feeding their spirit sought out Angela. There is no evidence that she did any public preaching. Instead, she lived her life devoted to Jesus, and this life of humble service made her attractive to those in need. When they came to her door, she welcomed them, and shared the Good News of Jesus.
Consider these questions with your group:
- Do you have examples of when you’ve been sought out to help someone with their faith?
- What are some ways we could do better in welcoming someone on a faith journey?
Reader 5: “What Jesus taught was a radical message of welcome and inclusion and love. I feel certain God loves me just the way I am, and I have a huge sense of calling to communicate that to young people. When I think of myself at 13, sobbing into that carpet, I just want to help anyone in that situation to not have to go through what I did, to show that instead, you can be yourself – a person of integrity.”
Vicky Beeching, British musician and religious commentator
Reader 6: “This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. Welcome and entertain them all!”
Rumi
Leader:
We don’t often think of being welcoming as a “radical” action. Jesus welcomed sinners, outcasts, the people with no status in society. Some of Angela’s daughters were on the low end of society, they never received invitations, and yet Angela invited them to begin her Company. She encouraged lay people who served the “incurables” and converted prostitutes. There were repercussions from the powerful at that time, just as there are today when we talk about reaching out to those on the margins of our society.
Consider these questions in your group:
- Who do you feel Angela is calling you to welcome today?
- What are the obstacles to your ability to welcome these people?
Closing prayer:
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:2
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