Hospitality is more than being polite or offering refreshments. It is about creating a community where people feel valued and recognized for their contributions. When we practice hospitality, we acknowledge that we are incomplete without others and that their presence enriches us. This practice invites us to move from simply welcoming people to standing with them in solidarity, and eventually to mutuality—where we realize we genuinely need each other. Shifting our focus from doing to being allows us to become more fully the community that Scripture calls us to be. This shift requires patience and humility. It asks us to listen, to learn, and to see our shared humanity more clearly. As we open ourselves to others, we become a stronger, more connected community—one that reflects compassion, respect, and a commitment to the well-being of all.
May we shift from doing to being,
becoming the community we are called
to be—open, connected, and whole.
(inspired by Christine D. Pohl, Living into Community; Sandra Maria Van Opstal, Beyond Welcoming)