Contents
Introduction
I can’t get no satisfaction; I can’t get no satisfaction…. This line is taken from the heat album of the Rolling Stones. Despite their popularity and wealth, the group laments they cannot get satisfaction. What it means is that music and wealth have not and cannot give them the spiritual fulfilment necessary to complete their musical achievement. What is it that gives a Christian satisfaction and fulfilment? Last Sunday, Jesus sent out his disciples on an important and salvific mission, and gave them instructions on how to be successful. One of those instructions is not to allow fear to prevent them from bearing witness to the Gospel and announce the message of salvation to all, and especially, to denounce evil. The same instruction continues this Sunday but with a different orientation. What should be the disciple’s preference? And how should people treat the disciples? In the mind of Jesus, both the sent and the recipients have their responsibilities and roles as regards the spreading of the Gospel and salvation. Each must not be found wanting in his or her own responsibility.
On hospitality
As a noun, hospitality is “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” It is the “act of being friendly and welcoming to guests, visitors and strangers.” It is kindness in welcoming guests or strangers. Hospitality is about treatment, reception and disposition towards others. It consists of gifts, traditions, and kindness. Every homeowner shows it, and every guest expects it. In the Ancient Greece, hospitality meant a lot more than giving your guest the most expensive seat. The Ancient Greece used the word xenia to express the relationship between the guest and the host. In other words, xenia which means guest-friendship, is the ancient Greek concept of hospitality, considered the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing guest-friendship. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host expressed in both material benefits (such as the giving of gifts to each party) as well as non-material ones (such as protection, shelter, or favours).
Conclusion
The aspect of hospitality in the Odyssey as reported above, is a central theme in this work (Odyssey). Most of the epic is filled with descriptions of the feasting and gift giving by very generous hosts. One concern of hospitality is the relationship between guest and host and focuses on the sharing of wealth, knowledge, and accommodation. Hospitality in this society was made to serve many different purposes, such as pleasing the gods, pleasing guests, spreading a good reputation throughout the known world, and creating bonds between other families and cities. The reputation of hospitality is passed down from father to son. Hence, the bonds of hospitality are intergenerational.
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE:
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I‑II-III)!! The reflection for the 13th Sunday of the year (A) is found in The Word of Life, vol. I, pages 349–358. Happy reading!
For details on how to get it, contact the author on this link: https://m.me/uchennabiblia?fbclid=IwAR2yeg4a6sDGBp9QGkIvKj6FSADumMokN6lshdE0zuo-JHs6qOmlhA7jyHo
or email me at: postmaster@uchennabiblia.com
or simply send an SMS on 08116100926, and I will get back to you.