Readings:Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
“We’ll leave the light on for you …” Probably everyone remembers Tom Bodett’s ad campaign for Motel 6. Tom Bodett’s a self-professed road-warrior-turned-writer. He recalls how he adlibbed the line at the end of a 1986 commercial shoot, claiming it “just came to him” as one of those things you hear now and then that makes you feel welcome and secure.
As Pastor Johnson pointed out, it wasn’t ever about pools, cable or “the amenities”. 'Cause there aren’t many. It was meant to say that “it felt like home”. Home is not about amenities. Home’s much more about hospitality, about feeling welcome and secure. All the amenities in the world can’t give that to you.
Or, as Pastor Johnson aptly put it,
“It’s not about hors d-oeuvres; it’s a philosophy, a morality.”
Some “hospitalities” are proper, hierarchical, scripted by rules and Miss Manners. They’re earned, delivered if you’re worthy; they’re not just for anybody. But true hospitality comes from the moral heart. It is an open invite, all encompassing, never exclusive. The morality of hospitality carries the corollary that it’s immoral not to be hospitable.
Jesus gave us His example when john the Baptist claimed Jesus as The One. Jesus’ reply is not that He is The One, but, on a much more even-handed note, he says “Come on over” … aka "We’ll leave the light on for you".
In as much as we are to follow His example, Church community doesn’t start with discipleship, it starts with hospitality. Jesus built His Church one convert at a time, by His hospitality and welcoming arms. I’ll never forget the day, where I was sitting, when I first heard Pastor Johnson say
Some “hospitalities” are proper, hierarchical, scripted by rules and Miss Manners. They’re earned, delivered if you’re worthy; they’re not just for anybody. But true hospitality comes from the moral heart. It is an open invite, all encompassing, never exclusive. The morality of hospitality carries the corollary that it’s immoral not to be hospitable.
Jesus gave us His example when john the Baptist claimed Jesus as The One. Jesus’ reply is not that He is The One, but, on a much more even-handed note, he says “Come on over” … aka "We’ll leave the light on for you".
In as much as we are to follow His example, Church community doesn’t start with discipleship, it starts with hospitality. Jesus built His Church one convert at a time, by His hospitality and welcoming arms. I’ll never forget the day, where I was sitting, when I first heard Pastor Johnson say
“There’s nothing … nothing sweeter to a person than the sound of their own name.”
Remember that, and it means miles more than an invitation laden in gold. The only gold inlay that matters are the open arms of “You’re welcome here”.
Pastor Johnson reminds us of the story of Zacchaeus, a con artist and tax collector of his day, who climbs a tree to hear Jesus speak. Zacchaeus is no elder statesman. But Jesus calls to him regardless and yells, “Zacchaeus, I’m comin’ over to your house”. He bestows on Zacchaeus the feeling of being welcomed when he thought he'd be (and had gotten used to being) rejected.
When the youth choir from St. Pius recently sang at Mt. Zion, what they couldn’t talk enough about was the coffee hour, the donuts, the fireplace. They couldn’t get over the people asking them to come back .... living "We’ll leave the light on for you" ... "Y'all come back now, ya hear?".
Hospitality IS that transformation that occurs over a donut, a cup o’ joe, a conversation. That’s why it’s ‘a fellowship hall’, not a ‘ya’ll don’t belong hall’. We are called to LIVE the Gospel of Hospitality. A voice that you hear over your shoulder saying “Are you lost. Can I help you?”, a tap on the shoulder and a gentle “What’s your name?”, a smile and a “Hi, nice to have you with us this morning. Come back anytime … anytime.”
Remember the voice of Ray Kinsella when Shoeless Joe Jackson, a man without a home, asks if he can "come back". Ray’s response, “Yes … I built this (field) for you!” Then when Joe says “There were others”, Ray does not hesitate in answering “They’re ALL welcome here.”
In the tablecloth that comes from the sky in Peter’s dream, Jesus was introducing him to the concept that everyone’s invited to the table.
“It’s a big, big table with lots and lots of food! It’s My Father’s House.”
And ALL are invited. It’s not about rules anymore. The protocol is erased by Jesus.
Pastor Johnson retold the story of being invited to the house of his Greek professor in college. The room was full of PK’s (Pastor’s kids) – those who had a membership, of sorts, by blood. Pastor Johnson remembered the freshman feeling of not belonging. The “nervousness that’s nervous to be you” ... The house was a testament to world-wide travels, art on the walls, real food with napkins served at food stations. And his professor’s wife spoke to him and asked if she could show him their home. Imagine that? He did belong, after all. The “nervousness” was melted, or begun its melting, with the words of personal invitation into a world that one might have otherwise thought exclusive.
The testament to the moment is that 40 years later, he still recalls that conversation. His welcoming to the world of the belonging. On his professor’s wife’s passing, he wrote a letter to say he “pays it forward” by trying to be that person for others when they happen upon his doorstep. Because of her, in testament to her witness ... a voice that, when we otherwise could have been “too busy”, says “Come on in”.
Yes … transformational hospitality is a holy moment … a moment when a voice calls out “Come on in. We’ll leave the light on for you.”
Pastor Johnson reminds us of the story of Zacchaeus, a con artist and tax collector of his day, who climbs a tree to hear Jesus speak. Zacchaeus is no elder statesman. But Jesus calls to him regardless and yells, “Zacchaeus, I’m comin’ over to your house”. He bestows on Zacchaeus the feeling of being welcomed when he thought he'd be (and had gotten used to being) rejected.
When the youth choir from St. Pius recently sang at Mt. Zion, what they couldn’t talk enough about was the coffee hour, the donuts, the fireplace. They couldn’t get over the people asking them to come back .... living "We’ll leave the light on for you" ... "Y'all come back now, ya hear?".
Hospitality IS that transformation that occurs over a donut, a cup o’ joe, a conversation. That’s why it’s ‘a fellowship hall’, not a ‘ya’ll don’t belong hall’. We are called to LIVE the Gospel of Hospitality. A voice that you hear over your shoulder saying “Are you lost. Can I help you?”, a tap on the shoulder and a gentle “What’s your name?”, a smile and a “Hi, nice to have you with us this morning. Come back anytime … anytime.”
Remember the voice of Ray Kinsella when Shoeless Joe Jackson, a man without a home, asks if he can "come back". Ray’s response, “Yes … I built this (field) for you!” Then when Joe says “There were others”, Ray does not hesitate in answering “They’re ALL welcome here.”
In the tablecloth that comes from the sky in Peter’s dream, Jesus was introducing him to the concept that everyone’s invited to the table.
“It’s a big, big table with lots and lots of food! It’s My Father’s House.”
And ALL are invited. It’s not about rules anymore. The protocol is erased by Jesus.
Pastor Johnson retold the story of being invited to the house of his Greek professor in college. The room was full of PK’s (Pastor’s kids) – those who had a membership, of sorts, by blood. Pastor Johnson remembered the freshman feeling of not belonging. The “nervousness that’s nervous to be you” ... The house was a testament to world-wide travels, art on the walls, real food with napkins served at food stations. And his professor’s wife spoke to him and asked if she could show him their home. Imagine that? He did belong, after all. The “nervousness” was melted, or begun its melting, with the words of personal invitation into a world that one might have otherwise thought exclusive.
The testament to the moment is that 40 years later, he still recalls that conversation. His welcoming to the world of the belonging. On his professor’s wife’s passing, he wrote a letter to say he “pays it forward” by trying to be that person for others when they happen upon his doorstep. Because of her, in testament to her witness ... a voice that, when we otherwise could have been “too busy”, says “Come on in”.
Yes … transformational hospitality is a holy moment … a moment when a voice calls out “Come on in. We’ll leave the light on for you.”
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