The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
July 22, 2007
Vol. 10 no. 28

Everything But...
           Once again, food rears up its delicious head and takes command of the Biblical story. Food is clearly involved, but hospitality is more the issue at hand. In both the Old and New Testament tales, there are guests and there are hosts. The matter always weighs heaviest on whether the hosts are welcoming enough and in the right way.
           Abraham and Sarah receive three strange men in the middle of the noon day heat. Only mad dogs and Englishmen we are told would venture into such 40+ conditions. Of course, prairie types share some of the same characteristics! Abraham must have looked cross-eyed at these unwise travelers, but guests are guests at any hour.
           One of the reasons hospitality is such a sacred tradition and obligation in the Near East is because guests are able to bring their hosts gifts. Not so much physical items, but the gifts of conversation and news from afar, as well as the gifts their personalities and talents have to offer. In the ancient world, especially, traveling was dangerous and travelers were a rare breed and therefore unusually interesting people. Abraham’s trinity of visitors brought the gift of almost laughable news of a baby for an elderly couple. In fact, Sarah did laugh.
           Not in the middle of the desert but in a small village later identified as Bethany, Jesus came visiting and was received graciously by Martha and her sister Mary. Martha was a busy person, while Mary knew how to be lazy and listen. Consequently, it was Mary who was able to receive the gifts Jesus offered and while she did not wash any dishes, she was hospitable to her guest in the most important way - she paid attention to him. Don’t worry, busy Martha still has virtues worth keeping!