Have you ever stayed in someone else’s house? If so, what was that like for you?

I remember many years ago needing to go to a place called Chicago for my job. Usually, I would fly in an airplane to Chicago, but this time, I thought it would be fun to drive there over the weekend instead. That way, I could visit a good friend who lives in Rochester and then the next night, a good friend who lives in Chicago.

On Saturday, I drove all day to Rochester. When I arrived at my friend’s house, he opened the door, invited me inside, and we proceeded to have a great night. He made me a nice dinner, we stayed up late, told stories, and remembered what it was like to go to school together when we were younger. It was great!

Eventually, when it was time to go to bed, my Rochester friend showed me to the spare bedroom. The room was very nice, there were fresh sheets on the bed, a water bottle on the nightstand, and some towels in case I wanted to take a shower. I was tired but slept like a baby that night.

In the morning, I set off for another long drive toward Chicago. Eventually, I got there and went to my friend’s house… but no one was home. There wasn’t a note on the door and so I didn’t know if he forgot I was even coming. This was before we had cellphones, so I waited outside for a really long time until he eventually got home. 

Then, we went out to dinner, stayed up late, told stories, and remembered what it was like to go to school together when we were younger. It was fun. Eventually, when it was time to go to bed, he stood up and pointed to the couch I had been sitting on and said: “I hope you’ll be comfortable.” And then he just left the room.

There were no sheets, no pillows, no blankets. So, I got onto the coach and tried to fall asleep. But… my Chicago friend had a cat named Lulu and that cat didn’t like me very much. She sat on the chair right next to where I was and stared at me all night long. So, I hardly slept at all.

Two friends: the Rochester friend who showed me wonderful hospitality and the Chicago friend who didn’t show me much hospitality at all. One was a very good host while the other was a pretty bad host.

Well, that is what today’s Gospel story is about. It’s about being a host. Jesus is saying to his friends that the place he is going to is very nice and one that they will visit someday. He is telling them that he is going to be much more like my friend from Rochester than my friend from Chicago. That he will be a really good host. And that he will prepare a nice place for them there… and for all of us too. 

He tells them that we are all going to love it there. 

Jesus just asks that we follow him and try to be as much like him as possible. And that we be good hosts to other people as well… to our friends and neighbors and to all of God’s children, even the people we don’t like very much.

Jesus was kind and caring.

He forgave people when they made him angry.

He helped people when they were sick and hungry and lonely.

You see, Jesus was a very good host!