Some of the Inspiration for Our Hospitality
from the Emmanuel House Community

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1-5)

The story of the Manna in the desert, Exodus 16  “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day….  This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each of you needs… Let no one leave any of it over until morning.’” (Exodus 16:4, 16, 19)

“Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover them, and not to hide yourself from you own kin?  Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly…  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and God will say, Here I am.”  (Isaiah 58:6-9)

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).

“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2).

“Be hospitable to one another without complaining.  Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (1 Peter 4:8-10).

The stranger requires much attendance, much encouragement, and with all this it is difficult for him not to feel abashed; for so delicate is his position that whilst he receives the favor, he is ashamed. That shame we ought to remove by the most attentive service, and to show by words and actions, that we do not think we are conferring a favor, but receiving one, that we are obliging, less than we are obliged.  St. John Chrysostom, Homily 14 on 1 Timothy

“If you cannot relieve, do not grieve the poor.  Give them soft words, if nothing else. Abstain from either sour looks or harsh words. Let them be glad to come, even though they should go empty away. Put yourself in the place of every poor person; and deal with him as you would God should deal with you.” John Wesley, in Christine Pohl, Making Room, 71.

“You will find that charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the basket of bread. But you must keep you gentleness and your smile. Giving soup and bread isn’t all that the rich can do. You are the little servant of the poor, the maid of charity, always smiling and in good humor. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting as you will see, but the uglier and dirtier they are, the more unjust and bitter, the more you must give them of your love. It is only because of your love that the poor will forgive you.”-the advice of St. Vincent De Paul (1581-1660)

“Those who offer hospitality are not so much providing a service as they are sharing their lives with the people who come to them” –Christine Pohl, Making Room, 71-72.