When you go to Mass this Sunday, you will hear readings from the Bible. To prepare yourself and your family to truly hear God's Word, read and discuss this short article before you go.
Romans 15:7-13 Treat All as Christ
If you were to visit a Benedictine monastery, you would likely see the words "treat all as Christ" posted on a wall or left in a handwritten note on your bed. Benedictines embrace hospitality and approach every stranger as they would Jesus Christ himself. Is hospitality a gift you possess? Does your family welcome the stranger? In today's world, where safety is often the measure of our actions, Paul's instruction to welcome others as Christ welcomes us may seem too risky. But it should never stop us from seeing Christ in each person -- from the homeless person begging for a dollar to the driver who cuts ahead of us in traffic -- and offering him or her the respect we would offer Jesus. Sometimes strangers are even people who are quite close to us. We regard them as strangers because they think or act or believe differently than we do; but we are called to welcome them as well. As a family, share how you can offer the gift of hospitality.
If you have a copy of this Bible, this article appears on p. 1416 of the Catholic Faith & Family Bible, produced by the Center for Ministry Development, published by HarperCollins, 2010.
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