| St. John Chrysostom on "Christ's Room" |
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| Written by Sherry | |
| Monday, 12 July 2010 09:33 | |
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Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407), priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church «Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to drink... will surely not lose his reward." "I was a stranger," Christ says, "and you took me in" (Mt 25:35). And again, "In so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." (Mt 25:40). In every believer and brother, though they be least of all, Christ comes to you. Open your house, take them in. "Whoever receives a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward."... These are the qualities that ought to be in those who welcome strangers: readiness, cheerfulness, liberality. For strangers feel abashed and ashamed, and unless their host shows real joy, they feel slighted and go away, and their being received in this way makes it worse than not to have received them. Thanks to my friend, Eryn Huntington, who sent this to me. And me who feels guilty because this was exactly why I thought that we ended up with a large fixer upper. So let's talk: Do you have a "Christ room" - whether or not it is labeled as such? Do you know someone who does? Who do you know who lives this sort of lavish Christian hospitality? What kind of impact has it had on your life or the lives of others?
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