Flipbooks

What would you do if you found out that Jesus was coming to your home? How long would your to-do list be? There would probably be cleaning, vacuuming, food prep, and more. And you would for sure break out the fancy china! Luke 10:38–42 records the story of Jesus visiting the home of his friend Martha. It's recorded that she "welcomed Him into her house"—a beautiful act of hospitality. And while Mary is celebrated for sitting at the Lord's feet and listening to His teaching, no doubt Martha's warm welcome was a blessing to Jesus. Ex- tending hospitality and creating spaces and moments that build community is a beautiful act of love and service. This was how Martha wanted to show her love for Jesus. The problem was, she let her preparations eclipse the joy of her Savior's coming. Think about how this is played out in our homes with our families. Does the activity of maintaining our house interfere with making space for our spouse and children? Do we make them feel welcomed? Or do we begrudge their presence as more of a nuisance than a joy? For the moment, let's focus on the welcome Martha offered more than her misplaced emphasis on her to- do list. Do you know anyone like that—someone really gifted at making family and others feel welcomed? It's a special gift, and having a "Martha" in our lives is a true treasure. The challenge is this: the notions of hospitality, shared spaces, and places that build community are all under attack. You've likely noticed that culture seems divided and isolated like never before. From our political lean- ings to our choice of cable TV network—even to which chicken sandwiches we prefer—it seems like everyone has broken off into different tribes. Even family mem- bers can be divided against one another. Unfortunate- ly, it's probably far more likely these days to find folks lobbing insults at others from behind a keyboard than sitting around a dinner table, sharing differing ideas and opinions respectfully. We need Martha's sense of hospitality now more than ever! Two quick thoughts to keep in mind as we seek to be light in a divided and isolated world: First, celebrate that through His life, death, and resur- rection, Jesus makes a space and a place at the table for imperfect ragamuffins like us. The greatest exam- ple of hospitality and community the world has ever known is found in Jesus, who welcomes us even when we don't welcome Him. "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). We can rejoice that in the Gospel, each one of us can find a sense of belonging and identity in Christ, a sorely needed stream in the desert these days. Second, having been brought into life with God, we make places and spaces for our families and others. Even if you don't have the fullness of Martha's gift of hospitality, there are steps you can take that will make a tangible difference in the lives of others. Once you have made the members of your family know they are welcome and appreciated, you could open your home for a beautiful meal, but you certainly don't have to go that far. A spirit of hospitality finds the person stand- ing alone in the church lobby, the co-worker having a rough day, or the new student who hasn't yet made many friends. A spirit of hospitality listens, actively and with focus, and seeks to understand before seeking to be understood. A spirit of hospitality follows the example of Christ, making a space and a place to build community, even when it hasn't been reciprocated. Back to that meal and moment in Bethany—Martha and her family got a chance to welcome the One who had so welcomed her. Like Martha, we can still wel- come Jesus into our families through prayer, devo- tions, and Bible reading. Similarly, the Lord Jesus Christ has made a place for you and me, solely by the grace of God. We rejoice in this, and then act upon it, sharing with others what we've received. "Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34). w Christ wants His Church to be together in community with one another. But society has pushed us further into bubbles of isolation. Learn to come back to His community and reconnect to His Church in Connected to Christ. Find this title and others listed in this magazine at cph.org/llresources. CONNECTED TO CHRIST Lutheran Life 11

• Cover