Worship and Evangelization Outreach / Georgene Beiriger

Hospitality: the heart of evangelization

Each morning when I walk into the lobby of Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis, I am greeted by a rather large and beautiful painting depicting Mary and Martha as they are serving Jesus in their home (Lk 10:38-42).

I pause for a few moments and wonder if today I will take on the attentiveness of Martha, or the listening presence of Mary. To be honest, most days it’s a little—sometimes a lot—of both.

True hospitality to our guests requires the busyness of preparation before they arrive and attentive service during their stay. But it also requires us to be open to receive the unique gift that each person is. Welcoming our guests and showing them hospitality requires us to be both Martha and Mary.

The ministry of Fatima Retreat House includes not just serving the archdiocese as its retreat and renewal center, but welcoming people of all faiths and in all life situations to come away and rest in a peaceful setting with a supportive environment for reflection. Providing great food and a comfortable, quiet building on beautiful grounds where our guests can rest, reflect, learn and pray, that isn’t all there is to hospitality. Sorry Martha, there is more. Much more.

Hospitality is the heart of evangelization. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples: “Whoever receives you receives me” (Mt 10:40). St. Benedict stressed in his Rule the importance of welcoming the stranger as one would welcome Christ (Chapter 53). In so doing, we witness to our belief that every human being is beloved by God and is worthy of respect, dignity and compassion.

Henri Nouwen, author of Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, tells us, “Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.”

At Fatima, we open our doors and strive to meet people where they are. We welcome in the seekers and the doubters, the lost and the found, the rich and the poor, the joyful and the sorrowful, the young and the old, the comforted and the afflicted.

Whether they come for a personal retreat, for one of our spiritual renewal programs or for spiritual direction, to work as a part of our volunteer community, or come with a group that simply rents our space to do their own program, we prepare to welcome each person as Christ and to help them—and us—be more aware of the great love he has for us. At its best, hospitality means being patient and open to hear others tell their stories, in their own time and in their own way, of how God has made his love and presence known to them in their lives.

Hospitality is a Christian virtue and a way of life for all of us—at all times and everywhere. It’s an attitude, a disposition of heart, and a sacred duty. We can strive to be both Mary and Martha in spirit and in service. Making physical and heart space for others is truly a gift to both the guest and the host.
 

(Georgene Beiriger is director of Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis. For more information on Fatima and program opportunities or to donate to support its ministry, go to www.archindy.org/fatima, or call 317‑545-7681.) †