Write for God

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

I would be remiss if I didn’t show hospitality to a fellow seeker who finds this page. Welcome to my new blog, which takes its name from a quote by Thomas Merton, my spiritual guide and one of my favorite writers. (The full quote in New Seeds of Contemplation reads: “If you write for God, you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men, you may make some money, and you may give someone a little joy, and you may make a noise in the world—for a little while. If you write only for yourself, you can read what you yourself have written, and after ten minutes, you will be so disgusted you will wish that you were dead.” As a prolific author whose vow of poverty prevented him from writing for money, Merton had to excel at writing for God.) 

Hospitality can mean opening one’s door to visitor, but its deeper meaning is to show care and kindness to anyone who needs it. Too often I despair at the lack of compassion I see around me:  letters to the editor in our local paper are full of selfish pronouncements about the cost of providing care tothe homeless, the mentally ill, the poor and uneducated, undocumented aliens and those who have committed crimes. This week, I even read two letters from self-righteous people who resented the parents of premature multiples for having too many sick babies who will require medical care. In a world where even the tiniest and most fragile of creatures are resented for what it costs to keep them alive, how can we hope to show hospitality to a homeless drug addict or to someone who mows our lawns but doesn’t have a visa?

As the world grows increasingly cold and unhospitable, it is our duty as Roman Catholics to live the words of Matthew 25: 34-46. When we feed the hungry, we feed Jesus. The strangers among us could be angels we are entertaining. Reach out to someone in need. Never let your right hand know what the left is doing when you give. Don’t be so quick to judge another’s need based on whether they carry a legal document that proves they’re “legal”–as if God judged us all by that standard. Surprise a stranger with your kindness and don’t forget to be thankful that you were given the opportunity to do so.

I sometimes shop at a no-frills supermarket that serves many poor patrons. Recently, the cashier added a can that belonged to the shopper behind me to my bill. The other shopper didn’t notice until she looked in her bag for the item. She asked me if it had gotten mixed in with the purchases I was bagging myself. It had and I had paid for it. Deeply embarassed, she offered to repay me the 79 cents if she could have her item back. She was preparing a special meal for her husband and the green chili peppers were an important ingredient. She was shocked when I gave her the can without asking to be reimbursed. She didn’t look like “us” and I didn’t ask to see her visa to show her hospitality. For less than 80 cents, I might have entertained an angel. I know I made a stranger smile.

When your children see you show compassion, they learn to be compassionate. No matter how much we might think that CCD classes or tuition at a parochial school will teach them the Gospel, it is in seeing us live Matthew’s words that they in turn learn the words of Jesus.  

Click on the about link if you’d like to know more about me. I welcome you to my blog and to sharing the Gospel.   May we all entertain angels!