What does the word ‘hospitality’ mean to you?
Maybe you think of the hospitality industry, the many service jobs involved in hospitality—the front desk and housekeeping staff at a hotel, the flight attendants on an airplane, the guest services department at an event venue. These people are all doing the work of hospitality. It’s their job to make people feel welcome in a place, make people feel comfortable, help them with any questions or needs they might have.
Or maybe when you think of hospitality, you think of welcoming guests into your own home. If you invite friends over for dinner, or have houseguests, what do you do to provide hospitality? You tidy up, you make the guest bed, you make sure the fridge is stocked or plan a nice meal.
What does the word ‘hospitality’ mean to you?
Maybe you think of the hospitality industry, the many service jobs involved in hospitality—the front desk and housekeeping staff at a hotel, the flight attendants on an airplane, the guest services department at an event venue. These people are all doing the work of hospitality. It’s their job to make people feel welcome in a place, make people feel comfortable, help them with any questions or needs they might have.
Or maybe when you think of hospitality, you think of welcoming guests into your own home. If you invite friends over for dinner, or have houseguests, what do you do to provide hospitality? You tidy up, you make the guest bed, you make sure the fridge is stocked or plan a nice meal.
We also talk about hospitality in the church. We have ushers and greeters who welcome people on Sunday morning. We look after our property and building so that it’s attractive and easy to navigate. We brew coffee and provide snacks so people can gather together after services. We open our buildings to different groups, (at St Andrew’s we organize bring and shares like our picnic today.)
In all these examples of hospitality, it’s about welcoming people in to our space. Whether it’s a hotel, your own home, or the church, we turn on the lights, open the doors, and welcome people in. And that’s a worthwhile thing to do.
But it’s not what Jesus tells us to do in our gospel reading this morning. In today’s reading, Jesus doesn’t instruct his disciples to welcome people in; instead, he sends the disciples out. Instead of telling them to provide hospitality to strangers, he tells them to receive hospitality from the world.
Today’s reading continues the teaching we heard the last two Sundays. Jesus sends out his twelve disciples, telling them to go from town to town, to travel without any money or supplies, to depend on the kindness of strangers. Instead of offering hospitality, Jesus tells them to go out and receive hospitality.
Receiving hospitality is a risky proposition. What if you go over to someone’s house and don’t like the food they serve? What if the bed isn’t comfortable? What if they brew the coffee too weak?
Okay, those examples are a little silly. But when you’re receiving hospitality, it means you’re not in control. You don’t get to choose what you eat, or where you sleep. It might even mean you find yourself in an unsafe situation. How many of us would, without a second thought, accept the hospitality of a free drink at the bar from a stranger?
You can’t know what’s in the drink or what the stranger’s intentions are. Even if that stranger is only trying to be friendly, you just can’t know. Accepting hospitality is risky.
Jesus also warns his disciples about the dangers of depending on hospitalit. He warns them that they won’t always be welcomed—in fact, they may be hated, persecuted, even killed on account of Jesus.
There is a flip side to those warnings, and it is in our Gospel reading today. Yes, disciples may be rejected on account of Jesus. Yes, relying on the hospitality of others is risky. But, Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
If you follow Jesus, if you are a disciple, the world may reject you on his account. But sometimes, the world will welcome you on his account. Anyone who welcomes a disciple welcomes Jesus himself.
There’s a famous passage in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 25. Jesus describes the final judgment, saying, “Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”
In that passage, Jesus teaches us that showing kindness, providing hospitality, to strangers is the same as giving kindness and hospitality to Jesus himself. If we want to see Christ in the world, we only have to look at our neighbors. We will see the face of Christ in the faces of the people around us. When we care for them, we are caring for Christ.
Matthew 25 says: if we want to encounter Christ, we should look to the people around us. We find Christ in the world. Matthew chapter 10 turns that around. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.” We find Christ in the world. And the world finds Christ in us.
The world finds Christ in us. Whoever welcomes us welcomes the one who sends us. Whatever kindness and hospitality we receive, that same kindness and hospitality is given to Jesus our Lord. These two passages in the gospel of Matthew fit together.
If we want to know where to see Christ in the world, we should look in the face of a stranger. And if the world needs to know where to see Christ, Christ is found in us. These two texts show us two sides of hospitality—the calling to provide hospitality to the stranger, and the challenge of accepting hospitality from the world.
We all are pretty good at providing hospitality in our own spaces – home and church as previously mentioned. But instead of being in our own space and providing hospitality to others, we should try this week to see where God is calling us out—out of our comfort zones, out of our space, out of the familiar things we can control.
As disciples of Christ, sometimes we are the ones who provide a welcome and hospitality. But we can’t stop there. We can’t sit in our comfortable homes and cook meals we know we like and invite other people to come to us. We have to also go out, be the ones who are strangers in an unfamiliar place. We have to be willing to risk discomfort, rejection, even danger. We have to be willing to receive hospitality as well as give it.
Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Let’s take a chance and let the world welcome Jesus through us. Amen.
Pastor Jennifer
4th Sunday of Trinity Year A, 2017
Are we afraid of someone or something? Feeling insecure about something or someone is quite normal to our human nature. Due to our limitedness and mortality, we tend to feel uncomfortable with many things. Safety and security are very essential for a peaceful and creative existence. When we see there are threats around us, we feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
Jesus was bold enough to say, "Fear no one." Fear begets fear. Jesus was clear about his priorities. Jesus did not mince his words. He called a spade a spade as he saw it. The liturgical readings on this Sunday encourage us to realize how precious we are and invite us to have the same courage of Jesus in our lives.
Are we afraid of someone or something? Feeling insecure about something or someone is quite normal to our human nature. Due to our limitedness and mortality, we tend to feel uncomfortable with many things. Safety and security are very essential for a peaceful and creative existence. When we see there are threats around us, we feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
Jesus was bold enough to say, "Fear no one." Fear begets fear. Jesus was clear about his priorities. Jesus did not mince his words. He called a spade a spade as he saw it. The liturgical readings on this Sunday encourage us to realize how precious we are and invite us to have the same courage of Jesus in our lives.
1. The Courage to Live in the Truth In today's Gospel Matthew 10:26–33, Jesus speaks to His disciples as He prepares them for the challenges of mission. He knows that following Him will not always be easy. There will be opposition, misunderstandings, rejection, and even persecution. Yet His message is clear: "Do not be afraid." This phrase is repeated several times, reminding us that courage in discipleship comes not from our own strength but from trusting in God's loving care.
Jesus says, "Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed." Truth has a way of coming to light. The disciples are called to proclaim openly what they have received from Jesus, not to keep it hidden out of fear. As Christians, we are entrusted with the Gospel, not as a private possession but as a message meant to be shared. Often we would like to remain silent about our faith. It is easy to do that. Jesus challenges us to speak and live the truth with conviction.
2. Fear God, Not Human Opinion
Jesus distinguishes between those who can harm the body and the One who holds our entire life in His hands. Human approval is fleeting, but God's judgment is eternal. Many of our fears arise from worrying about what others think of us. We fear criticism, rejection, or failure.
The Gospel invites us to reorder our priorities. When God becomes the center of our lives, the opinions of others lose their power to control us. True freedom comes when we seek first to please God rather than to gain human applause. Authentic witness is not merely about words; it is about living values of justice, compassion, honesty, and love even when such choices are unpopular.
3. The Preciousness of Every Person
Jesus uses a beautiful image: "Not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge." Sparrows were among the cheapest birds sold in the marketplace, yet God notices each one. Then Jesus adds, "You are worth more than many sparrows."
Our relationship with Christ should shape our choices, conversations, priorities, and relationships. When we stand up for what is right, forgive someone who has hurt us, defend the dignity of the vulnerable, or remain faithful to Christian values in daily life, is itself giving witness.
This idea reveals the immense dignity of every human person. God knows us intimately. He knows our struggles, dreams, fears, and even "the hairs of our head." We are not forgotten, abandoned, or insignificant. In moments of loneliness or discouragement, this assurance becomes a source of deep consolation: We are cherished by God beyond measure.
Questions for self-reflection
1. What fears prevent me from living my faith more openly? 2. When have I experienced God's loving care in difficult moments? 3. How can I acknowledge Christ more clearly through my words and actions this week?
Concluding Prayer
Lord Jesus, You know the fears that dwell within our hearts. Help us to trust in Your loving care and to live courageously as Your disciples. Teach us to place our confidence not in human approval but in Your unfailing love. May we never be ashamed of the Gospel but boldly witness to Your truth through our words and actions. Remind us each day that we are precious in the Father's eyes and that nothing can separate us from His love. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.
- Fr Olvin Veigas
3rd Sunday of Trinity, Year A, 21 June 2026, celebratefaith.blogspot.com
Jesus prayed. The Gospels reveal that prayer remained the constant refrain of Jesus’ life. Jesus prays frequently and fervently. Why would he of all people need to pray? First, Jesus was God made man, and so he had emptied himself to become human and some things were no longer possible for Jesus.
For example, if he were in Galilee, he would not also be in Jerusalem. Jesus was bound by time and space. Secondly, Jesus had also always been connected to the Father and the Holy Spirit in ways that are mysterious to us. They are one and yet three.
Jesus prayed. The Gospels reveal that prayer remained the constant refrain of Jesus’ life. Jesus prays frequently and fervently. Why would he of all people need to pray? First, Jesus was God made man, and so he had emptied himself to become human and some things were no longer possible for Jesus.
For example, if he were in Galilee, he would not also be in Jerusalem. Jesus was bound by time and space. Secondly, Jesus had also always been connected to the Father and the Holy Spirit in ways that are mysterious to us. They are one and yet three.
If that is difficult to get your mind around, that is fine. After all, a God you can fully comprehend isn’t much of a deity. But we see that Jesus prayed as a part of this ongoing relationship within the Trinity. Finally, Jesus prayed to be an example to his followers. We see this most fully on the night before he died. All of the Gospels tell of Jesus praying fervently that night. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we hear only that Jesus prayed for the cup to pass from him.
He did not want to die, but even so, Jesus submitted himself to God’s will. In our Gospel reading, we get a deeper glimpse into Jesus’ prayer that evening. In chapter 17 of John’s Gospel, which we read part of this morning, Jesus prays. Our reading starts, “Jesus looked up to heaven and said...” Those words matter, as they tell the reader that what follows is a prayer.
Jesus Reveals His Character in his Prayer to His Father
The prayer is not written to us. Jesus is talking with God the Father. John gives us not just the content of the prayer, but also the character of Jesus in writing down this prayer for us. Jesus says, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you.” In John’s Gospel, the word glory points to the cross. It is in his faithfulness unto death that Jesus glorified God.
In Jesus’ words in this prayer, we learn that Jesus values those who believe in him as a cherished gift from God. And in the final lines of our reading this morning, Jesus prayed, “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
Jesus wanted those who follow him to be protected, not from bodily harm, but from falling away from the faith. And most of all he wanted us to be one as he and the Father are one. This could reduce the prayer to a plea for Christian unity, but that is not all that is going on here.
Yes, Jesus would pray for those who follow him to be one in a way that makes unity among Christian denominations an important goal. But here, Jesus is praying for our protection, and for that to happen, he calls us to be drawn into the relationship of love that is the very Trinity.
Jesus and the Father are one in a way that goes beyond simple agreement, like, or love. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one at their essence through relationship. Jesus prays for that sort of deeper relationship for us. This is Jesus’ prayer before dying; his dying wish is for those who know him to be drawn into an abiding connection to him and his Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus had already demonstrated what an abiding connection to God looks like. Throughout his life, he had taken regular times for prayer both public and private—both liturgical prayers of synagogue and Temple worship and spontaneous prayers offered on various occasions.
Staying Connected to God in Good Times and in Bad
Jesus maintained his connection to God in good times and bad, in times of triumph, and in the agony of the cross. With only a few years in which to change the world forever, Jesus should have been a workaholic. Yes, he was faulted for breaking the Sabbath to heal and for letting his disciples pick grain to eat. But instead of being a workaholic, Jesus enabled others to minister as well.
We find in the Gospel what Jesus prayed, but we should also notice that Jesus prayed. His life is soon to end. He is in the last hours with his disciples. Rather than fitting in an all-night cram session to get the last bit of theological information into his disciples’ heads, Jesus pauses and prays. If you ever wonder what would Jesus do, the primary answer is that Jesus would pray. How much more should we first and foremost pray in all the chances and changes that life sends our way?
God will honor the arrow prayers we shoot heavenward in times of need, but we will find ourselves more fully connected to God if we set aside routine times to pray. The pattern for (Anglicans) is found in the brief Morning and Evening Prayer liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer and in Common Worship, and even in the one-page devotions tucked into the Prayer Book.
Making daily times for these prayers will not earn God’s favor; we have already been given that grace freely. Instead, the daily times of prayer will ground us in connection to the Holy Trinity.
This was Jesus’ will for us. Jesus wanted us to find and nurture that deep, abiding connection to God. Jesus wanted it so much that he prayed for all of us to get that sort of relationship and then he trusted his Father in heaven to enable it to happen. Our answer to Jesus’ prayer is found when we make time to pray and so grow closer to the God who knows us fully and loves all of us completely. Amen.
Lectionary reference: Acts 1:6-14; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36
Published by the Office of Formation of The Episcopal Church, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017. © 2017 The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. All rights reserved.
Bishop Frank
7th Sunday in Easter, 17 May 2026
Innocence is part of our lives. There is always a little corner for this aspect of our lives where we become childlike. We may be mature, adult and commanding many things, yet there are things which are unfamiliar to us, and often we might appear very silly.
Yet, this phenomenon of our lives might give us sometimes joy and peace, moreover, a sense that we are ultimately human and we need guides on our way. On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we have those wonderful readings which remind us that we must always be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn as we journey through life. This will make us very happy and face the challenges of life courageously and confidently.
Innocence is part of our lives. There is always a little corner for this aspect of our lives where we become childlike. We may be mature, adult and commanding many things, yet there are things which are unfamiliar to us, and often we might appear very silly.
Yet, this phenomenon of our lives might give us sometimes joy and peace, moreover, a sense that we are ultimately human and we need guides on our way. On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we have those wonderful readings which remind us that we must always be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn as we journey through life. This will make us very happy and face the challenges of life courageously and confidently.
Shifting Gears with Courage and Trust
In the Gospel of St John 14:1-12, Jesus speaks directly to the restless heart: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” These are not mere comforting words, but an invitation into a deeper trust. Jesus senses the anxiety of his disciples—the uncertainty of what lies ahead, the fear of losing his physical presence—and he responds not with explanations, but with relationship. He calls them, and us, to believe: “Believe in God, believe also in me.”
Faith here is not intellectual agreement but a surrender of the heart. It is to entrust oneself to a Person who promises, not a life free from struggle, but a place prepared — “in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” This assurance stretches beyond death; it speaks to the abiding presence of God even now. We are not homeless in this world of shifting certainties. We belong to God and God alone.
Following the Way of the Lord of Truth and Life
The curious disciple of our Lord, St Thomas posed an honest question — “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”—becomes the doorway for one of the most profound revelations: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Jesus does not give directions; he gives himself. He himself is the way. The Christian journey is not primarily about following rules or maps, procedures and protocols, processes and positions. It is simply walking with Christ, entering into his way of being, his truth of love, his life of communion with the Father. Nothing more and nothing less.
Another formidable disciple of our Lord, Philip asks—“Show us the Father”—These words echoe a deep human longing to see God. Who does not like to see the vision of God? Jesus’ response is both simple and challenging: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” God is not distant or abstract; God is revealed in the life, person, compassion, forgiveness, and self-giving love of Jesus. To know Christ is to encounter the Father’s heart. Jesus tells Philip not to make things complicated, but to simply follow his Master.
Believing in the Certainty that God Walks with us
If seeing is believing, then following is contemplation of God. Jesus speaks these words: “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and, in fact, will do greater works than these.”
Nothing is impossible for a person who trusts in God and follows in his precepts. Faith is not static, Faith is dynamic. To believe in Christ is to participate in his work—to become instruments of healing, reconciliation, courage, compassion, mercy and hope in the world. While the readings of today invite us to examine ourselves, we must ask, where do we feel troubled or uncertain? What fears weigh upon us? Jesus does not dismiss these feelings but gently redirects us toward trust. He calls us to anchor our lives not in shifting circumstances, but in his enduring presence. When we face uncertainties, indifference, confusion and despair, we must strengthen within us the spirits of love, truth, and enthusiasm. We must have great faith that God is at work preparing something greater even in the midst of struggle.
Questions for self-reflection
1. What are the situations in my life right now that make my heart troubled or anxious, and how do I bring them to Christ in trust? 2. How have I experienced Jesus as “the truth” and “the life” in my own journey of faith? 3. In what ways am I called to continue the works of Jesus—bringing love, healing, forgiveness, and hope to others?
And we’ll close this reflection with a Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are our way, our truth, and our life. In moments when our hearts are troubled and uncertain, draw us closer to you and deepen our trust in your presence. Help us to believe that you are always with us, guiding us toward the Father. Teach us to walk in your way with courage, to live your truth with sincerity, and to share your life through love and service. Strengthen our faith so that, through us, your works of compassion and hope may continue in the world. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.
Father Olvin
5th Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2026, https://celebratefaith.blogspot.com