Years ago Grace Church suffered the betrayal and grief of embezzlement. A book keeper from the diocese made many trips to the parish to help untangle the finances.
During that time she worked closely with a small group of parishioners. As it turned out the book keeper was going through a great deal of grief in her personal life at the time, and she found a home here at Grace with the parish committee that she worked with. She shared in the strength and life of the friendships and marriages that made up the committee.
She found room, room to heal, room to share pain, room to grow.
Hospitality. It isn’t about silverware and place settings. It’s about room, room to share in the life and relationships of each other, to be given the gift that helps us to stand up again.
There have been so many marriages, families, circles of friends that have given and shared their life with me over the years. Relationships with room for others, space to share life with others who are simply drained and empty. It is the mark, the evidence, the silver bullet of the Spirit of God.
That is hospitality.
In my father’s house there are many dwelling places. Those are Jesus’ words.
He isn’t speaking of a great big heaven with a great big afterlife with room for all.
Jesus is speaking of his relationship with the Father, with God, a relationship of mutual indwelling, of infinite intimacy and sharing.
It is that relationship that has room, lots of room for us to share in. It is the hospitality that overflows from the relationship of Jesus with the Father.
In their relationship we are invited to believe, to share, to draw life and strength from the dynamo of God’s hospitality. Jesus gives us the mission to do likewise. To offer the same sort of room, the same life giving hospitality to others.
What are the relationships that have fed us and strengthened us? Where has room been made for us? Do we have relationships that have room for others?
Grace Church has a long standing ministry to homeless families called the Sunshine House. We have recently finished fixing it back up again.
A place was prepared at the Sunshine House, the beds made, the kitchen filled, room was made. A family has found a home. They are sharing in the life of the relationships that make up this parish.
Yesterday the homeless were fed by the members of this parish who made hundreds of sandwiches to serve. Room that gives life.
Communion is carried to our homebound.
The mark. The evidence. The silver bullet of the Spirit of God.
Today we celebrate and send forth our young men and women who are about to graduate from high school. We have shared room and life with them.
May we all believe in the life that overflows from the relationship of Jesus with the Father. May we all find room in that life. May we all share that same life, that same hospitality with a world of broken relationships.