Co-Workers in the Truth: The Power of Christian Hospitality
November 16, 2024 - Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
3 John 5-8
In 2016, during World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, participants who stayed with local families were deeply moved by the tremendous hospitality of Polish Catholics. For many, this hospitality became a reflection of the Church’s global spirit of welcome and care for strangers. Hospitality was not only significant in modern Catholic life but was a vital feature of the biblical world. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews urges us, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb. 13:2), referencing the story of Abraham welcoming three angelic visitors under his tent (see Gen. 18:1-8). In Poland, there is a saying: "A guest in the house， God in the house," echoing this long-standing biblical principle.
The Third Letter of John is addressed to Gaius, a member of a Christian community who is highly praised for his exceptional practice of hospitality. In the Parable of the Last Judgment, Jesus identifies Himself with strangers seeking shelter: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matt. 25:35). The "strangers" who benefited from Gaius' hospitality were Christian missionaries. For the sake of Jesus, these missionaries left everything behind, traveling from place to place, preaching the gospel. They relied entirely on the support of local believers, like Gaius, to survive. Gaius not only offered them shelter but also provided assistance for their journeys, enabling them to continue their ministry. At the time, the Roman government, suspicious of the rapidly growing Christian movement, was hostile to its spread. Therefore, the support of local believers like Gaius was essential for missionaries to thrive in a hostile environment and establish new Christian communities.
By offering lodging, food, and support to Christian missionaries, Gaius became a "co-worker in the truth" (3 John 8). His hospitality was more than a simple act of kindness—it was a way of actively participating in the spread of the gospel. We see a similar example in the Acts of the Apostles. Lydia, a woman from Philippi, offered shelter to Paul, Luke, Silas, and Timothy (see Acts 16:11-15). Her hospitality extended beyond providing a place to stay; she became a devoted supporter of their ministry. After Paul left Philippi, the community continued to be one of his most generous supporters, providing aid for his missionary journeys (see Phil. 4:15-16). Through such acts of hospitality, the early Church grew and flourished.
In 1999, I took up a mission station in a mountainous region of East Timor, then the world’s newest and poorest nation. By 2000, our mission had no money, and the area was one of the poorest in the country. I didn’t turn to the government for help; instead, I went to Catholic communities, sharing the challenges we faced. I applied for a grant from a German Catholic organization, "Misereor," to buy a truck, and a few Australian Catholics also raised funds for our mission. By the time I left East Timor, the mission station had a truck, a coffee cooperative, and substantial amount of money in its bank account. Just as Gaius supported the early Christian missionaries, these Catholic communities around the world helped support our mission and ensure its growth.
Saint John praised Gaius for all he did for the Christian community, particularly for helping itinerant missionaries. Today, I offer similar praise to the generous Catholics who, like Gaius, welcome and support the mission of the Church. Through their prayers, financial assistance, and hospitality, they help sustain and expand the Church's mission worldwide. Their contributions not only support the daily needs of missionaries but also help establish strong, vibrant communities of faith. By supporting missionaries, these generous individuals become true "co-workers in the truth" (3 John 8), playing an essential role in spreading the gospel and building up the Church.