Peace to this house
Over the years we have received and accepted many kind invitations to stay at persons’ homes in our church ministry. We have also visited places where persons were not as pleased to have us. I can also remember times I have been less than welcoming to those who visited our home in the name of the Gospel.
So I can identify with Jesus’ instructions to the seventy two disciples as they embark on mission, in this week’s Gospel from Luke Chapter 10 - ‘Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.’
Jesus’ words remind me that the hospitality we offer and receive in ministry is not merely social—it is spiritual. When we enter a home or community, we carry the peace of Christ with us, and we must be attentive to where that peace is welcomed and where it is resisted. And when it is resisted it is not lost it comes back to us.
His instruction not to move from house to house also speaks to the importance of stability, gratitude, and humility—accepting what is given with grace, rather than seeking comfort or better conditions elsewhere. It challenges me to reflect on whether I am truly content to stay where I am received, and to offer the peace of Christ without judgment or expectation.
It also challenges me to be more hospitable. Not just in the practical sense of opening my home, but in the deeper sense of opening my heart to those who come in the name of Christ—regardless of their background, appearance, or manner.
True hospitality, as Jesus teaches, is not about impressing guests or maintaining control, but about creating space for others to feel seen, safe, and loved. It is about receiving others as we would receive Christ himself, with generosity, patience, and a willingness to be inconvenienced for the sake of the Gospel.
Reflecting on this Gospel passage, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the generous hospitality we have received at our daughter’s home and at Bonnevaux Benedictine Abbey on this pilgrimage.
I also remember the feeling of welcome I experienced when we visited another church tradition for my granddaughter to participate in a children’s dance session. These experiences have reminded me that the spirit of welcome is a powerful expression of God’s love.
Whether shared around a family table, in the quiet rhythm of monastic life, or at a church dance class, such hospitality nourishes not only the body but the soul. As we continue our journey, I carry with me a renewed commitment to offer that same peace and welcome to others—wherever I live, serve, and minister.