Last October I was in the midst of a conflict with some cousins of mine.  The details are not important. As is common in family squabbles, I immediately saw how they were behaving poorly; and only later how my own poor behavior also contributed to the problem.  It left me feeling hurt, and a bit isolated from my family.

    I then went on vacation, which I had planned months before, to Dublin, Ireland.  It has been over 30 years since I had been there. I went with my sister Ann, and we did not plan to do the typical tourist stuff.  I just wanted to rest, and visit some of my cousins there. Noreen and her husband Frank are cousins through my father side. They are about the same age as my parents, and like them, also had 4 children:  the mirror of my family, 3 boys and a girl. I remember Noreen and Frank from my previous visit, and I think I met Aine, their daughter then. It has only been through Facebook that I have gotten to know the boys, Declan, Frankie, and Sean, who play in a band.  The purpose of my trip was to see them, “The Big Digger,” play, which we did.

    The vacation was just what I needed.  Most afternoons we would gather at Frank and Noreen’s house and just visit, teach Declan’s kids our “Americanisms,” and just have a warm family meal.  The visit healed my soul.

    That’s what this month’s virtue of Hospitality is all about.  Hospitality is more than just being welcoming and kind to visitors.  The Church has always used the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a model for what we mean by hospitality.  The Good Samaritan did not merely welcome the man set upon by bandits; he took care of him. As should be obvious from the word (but struck me a bit as a surprise), hospitality is about helping to heal others.  St. Benedict took the concept even further, by telling his monks to welcome people as if they were welcoming Christ.

    Christian hospitality can occur in many simple ways.  We can invite people over for a celebration, or even a regular family activity.  Sharing a home-cooked meal can heal more than just a hungry belly. A wave hello to a neighbor from the porch.  And when appropriate, inviting others to join you for prayer. The key is that family not just open the door, but also their hearts with love toward others, sharing a love that is warm and life-giving like Christ’s.  That’s just what Noreen and Frank provided me last October.

    This month take some time to look at how your family practices hospitality.  You might have even had recent examples as you welcomed family and friends who visited while on summer vacation.  Do you welcome them as you would Jesus? Maybe hospitality is challenging for your family, why? How do you think that practicing hospitality might help your family grow in grace and happiness?

    Here’s a simple family project to try:  Invite acquaintances from the parish or your neighborhood over for a meal, and spend some time socializing afterwards.  Invite them to join you for a family prayer too.