Welcome to Tuesday’s Podcast. Our reading today is Acts 9: 19b – 31. Today we’ll focus on verse 27-28:

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

REFLECTION:

Hospitality is so powerful.

Being able to make someone feel welcomed, embraced and included is such an incredible gift.

Whenever I heard the word ‘hospitality’ I must confess I used to feel a bit confused. I think I fell into the trap of believing that hospitality was presenting the best ‘us’ – hoovering the house; sedating the dog – making sure the place was clean and tidy. There’s nothing wrong with those things – but hospitality isn’t entertainment. It’s not showing off a perfectly manicured home with a Danish inspired colour scheme. The Biblical picture of hospitality is deeper – it’s about allowing people into our lives. The Greek work for hospitality is filoxenia – it’s literally to ’embrace the stranger’. We spent 6 weeks over the summer thinking about ‘Big Table’ – who are we inviting into our lives? It’s nearly November – so if you’re part of STC – how are you getting on with that?

The truth is that there are two stand out characters in yesterday and today’s passage that challenge me hugely on the topic of hospitality. Yesterday Ananias literally welcomes ‘Brother Saul’, and today Barnabas. There’s so much we could say and to cover all of today’s passages would take us well outside of the time allotted for his podcast.

In today’s passage Saul’s arrival in Jerusalem and connection with the disciples there is met with hostility. Saul’s reputation went before him. Let’s not forget the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7: as his beaten bloody body was dragged him out of the city, witnesses laid their coats before Saul – and it says in verse 60b ‘Saul was there giving approval to his death’.

So I kind of have some sympathy for the Jerusalem disciples. Had Saul really changed? Was he a really a follower of the Way? Was he lulling them into a false sense of security and then reporting them to the authorities? Would they forgive him?

It’s easy to embrace those we like. People like us. It’s easy to show hospitality to those who are safe; friends – people we get on with. What about those we don’t get on with? What about those who have wronged us? Irritate us or even just get under our skin?

What happens next is quite profound. Barnabas – a kind of quiet giant in the New Testament – steps forward and embraces Saul. In much the same way that Ananias did in Damascus, Barnabas affirms Saul’s story, vouches for his character and confirms his calling. Barnabas’ name means the ‘Son of Encouragement’ – not his proper name but one given to him by the early church. He confirms over Saul all that God has spoken over him. That’s what encouragers do – they speak life. Criticism does the opposite. To change the atmosphere in our workplaces – homes and even our marriages – we need to spread encouragement. Barnabas’ encouragement of Saul is a truly hospitable thing. The Jerusalem church embraces this stranger Saul.

Encouragement and hospitality are intertwined.

If you’re in a community – is it genuinely a place of hospitality? Are your new people welcomed? Embraced? Even if their presence in your Cell group means it isn’t quite as cosy or intimate as it used to be? What about at Cluster events – will you talk to the people you don’t quite know as well – show hospitality – or stay in the comfort zone of speaking to the people you feel safe with?

A few weeks ago I was challenged walking home from school.