Vigils Reading – 26th Sunday

THE HOSPITALITY OF ABRAHAM

From a commentary by St John Chrysostom

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It is worthwhile inquiring why the rich man saw Lazarus in Abraham’s

arms, and not in the company of some other righteous person. The reason is

that Abraham was hospitable, and so the sight of Lazarus with Abraham was

meant to reproach the rich man for his own in hospitality. Abraham used to

pursue even passers-by and drag them into his home, whereas the rich man

disregarded someone lying in his own doorway. Although he had within his

grasp so great a treasure, such an opportunity to win salvation, he ignored the

poor man day after day. He could have helped him but he failed to do so.

The patriarch was not like that but just the opposite. He would sit in his

doorway and catch all who passed by. And just as a fisherman casting a net into

the sea hauls up fish, yes, but also quite often gold and pearls, so Abraham while

catching people in his net finished by catching angels, though strangely enough

without knowing it.

Even Paul marvels at this and gives the advice: Remember to welcome

strangers into your homes, for some by doing so have entertained angels

without knowing it. And he did well to say without knowing it, for if Abraham

had welcomed his guests with such kindness because he knew who they were he

would have done nothing remarkable. He is praiseworthy only because, without

knowing who the passers-by were and taking them to be simply human

wayfarers, he yet invited them in with such good will.

And this is true of you also. If you show much eagerness in welcoming

some famous and distinguished person you do nothing remarkable; often the

high rank of a guest compels even a reluctant host to show every sign of

courtesy. But we do something truly great and admirable when we give a most

courteous welcome to all, even the outcasts of society or people of humble

condition. Hence Christ himself praised those who so acted, declaring:

Whatever you did for one of these very poor people you did to me. He also said:

It is not your Father’s will that one of these little ones should perish. Indeed

throughout the gospel Christ speaks a great deal about the little people and

those of the humblest condition.

And so Abraham also, knowing this, did not ask who travelers were or

where they come from, as we do today, but simply welcomed them all. Anyone

wishing to show kindness should not inquire into other people’s lives, but has

only to alleviate their poverty and supply their needs, as Christ commanded

when he said: Imitate your Father in heaven, who makes his sun to rise on good

and bad alike, and sends rain on the just and unjust.