Commented Bible Passages

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three measures of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (Genesis 18:1-8)

Relying on God’s call, Abraham left “his country, his family and his father’s house” (Genesis 12:1) to live as a foreigner in a land shown to him by God. He abandoned all pretensions to ownership to live on the gift he has received. God promised him a universal family, “in you will be blessed all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3).

This story of Abraham’s hospitality reminds believers that welcoming a stranger means welcoming God. God sets a blessing on the welcome of strangers, just as he sets a curse on the abuse of strangers in the story of Lot and Sodom (Genesis 19), which functions as a kind of parallel to this story. Serving foreigners and loving them as we do our neighbors is a way of putting faith into practice. Beyond an invitation to generosity, this story shows us the meaning of hospitality.

Abraham welcomes the three visitors as if God himself were visiting him. He runs to meet them, bows down respectfully and calls them “lord.” He does not ask for their names, their background or where they are going; he uses neither diplomacy nor seduction. They are not put in a box; they keep their mystery. Living out his faith enables Abraham to leave his guests entirely free and to respect them in their otherness.

Abraham invites the travelers gracefully and acts as their servant. He is modest in his words, offering “a little water... to wash your feet... and something to eat.” But he practices a great generosity: 22 liters of flour, a calf, cheese and milk for three persons. Enough to eat for several days! He himself has been a stranger, receiving everything as a gift, and here he shows his active faith in God by this generosity towards strangers.

The arrival of the travelers gives Abraham the opportunity to widen his outlook, to have a wider embrace. He does not act like a master who grants people a few moments between his many occupations, who receives greetings, gifts, marks of esteem showing the peaceful intentions of the visitors, who grants permission to travelers to cross his land. There is a reversal of attitudes that expresses what is at stake in hospitality and in relationships with foreigners. Abraham gives orders to his wife and his servants as a superior, but he becomes the servant of the visitors.

Those who are welcomed benefit from his generous hospitality. They accept the water, the food, the offer to rest or to spend the night. But even before contracting this debt, they put themselves and their lives into the hands of their host. “We believe that you will not poison us or rob us while we rest. We make you responsible for our welfare. We are at your mercy. We think you are trustworthy.” The one who welcomes is in charge of their security, their integrity. That responsibility causes him to grow. It shows that he is worthy of recognition; he earns respect. “We will tell other people about the good you did to us; we will speak well of you; your name will be connected to this blessing.”

In this way the one who offers a welcome augments his credit, his dignity, and his respect far beyond the circle of his acquaintances.

 In what gospel story does Jesus reward those who show hospitality to him?

 How does Christ welcome me today?

 On what occasion did I receive hospitality or help from strangers?

 How can I welcome strangers or poor people in my home or community?