Week: Mark's Gospel
As usual, we start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
God of hospitality, thank You for inviting us into Your family. As we sit at Your table and taste Your words to us, may they give us all the strength we need.
Alphonsus Rodríguez was born in Spain in 1532, and he became a true hero of hospitality. But before we hear about his life, let’s REFLECT on a story Jesus told about how important it is that we show hospitality towards people – that we welcome everyone.
Read by Noelle
Matthew 25:35-40
[The King said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then the good people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’ Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’
(Matthew 25:35-40 NCV)
As a boy, Alphonsus loved studying and learning. However, when he was only 14, his father died and so he had to leave school so that he could run the family business, which he did for the next 25 years. Throughout those years, Alphonsus dreamed of training to become a priest – a church leader – but when he finally applied, they told him he was too old and he wasn’t educated enough.
Even though his dream of becoming a priest was over, Alphonsus decided to help other people who were training to be priests instead. He got himself a job as a doorkeeper at the priest’s training college, which is what he did for the rest of his life. Although it seemed like an unimportant job, Alphonsus made everyone who came to the door feel important. He knew the Bible story that we read together just now about welcoming people as if we are welcoming Jesus, and so, every time someone rang the bell, Alphonsus would reply, ‘I’m coming, Lord’ as if he was welcoming Jesus into the college.
The simple, friendly way that Alphonsus treated people had a big impact. Even though he hadn’t studied the Bible in the way the priests had, Alphonsus seemed to know Jesus better, so many of the trainee priests came to him for support instead of to their teachers. And after meeting with Alphonsus, many were inspired to serve God in bolder ways, taking the good news of Jesus to far off places.
Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: When was the last time we asked for encouragement or advice? Who did we go to, and what was it about?
Let’s ASK God to help us and others to live like Alphonsus did.
Loving God, help us to treat every person we meet as if they were You – welcoming them with kindness. As we do, we ASK that they would encounter Your love. May our simple acts of love encourage people to put their trust in You.
Alphonsus’ ordinary job – just opening doors for people – wasn’t very exciting, and yet he transformed lots of people’s lives. Let’s think about the people who serve us in ordinary ways – our parents, our carers, our teachers or anyone else who comes to mind.
Loving God, we ASK You to fill them afresh with Your Holy Spirit today and encourage them to keep going!
Alphonsus realised that being famous or clever or having an important job doesn’t really matter. What matters is being kind and welcoming towards other people. As we do ordinary things, God can do extraordinary things through us.
Pause
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, we say YES to doing everything as if doing it for You. Like Alphonsus, we’ll say ‘I’m coming, Lord!’ as we go about our day. And as we do, help us to show Your hospitality to everyone we meet.
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Noelle lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
