Extreme hospitality
A Revised Common Lectionary resource for April 30
By Magdalena I. García
A sculpture titled Lady Mercy graces the renovated lobby at Mercy Hospital, on Chicago’s South side. / Una escultura titulada Señora de la Merced adorna el renovado vestíbulo del Hospital Mercy, en el sur de Chicago.
But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. – Luke 24:29
Read the full lectionary passages here
That strange traveler on the road:
Talk with him, hear his story, learn from his insights.
That homeless beggar on the road:
Talk with her, hear her story, learn from her perspective.
That unemployed man on the road:
Talk with him, hear his story, learn from his struggles.
That battered woman on the road:
Talk with her, hear her story, learn from her rage.
That former prisoner on the road:
Talk with him, hear his story, learn from his disillusionment.
That LGBTQ couple on the road:
Talk with them, hear their story, learn from their journey.
That black boy on the road:
Talk with him, hear his story, learn from his frustration.
That pregnant adolescent on the road:
Talk with her, hear her story, learn from her dilemma.
That special-needs person on the road:
Talk with him, hear his story, learn from his persistence.
That grieving family on the road:
Talk with them, hear their story, learn from their pain.
That abandoned child on the road:
Talk with him, hear his story, learn from his isolation.
That stigmatized immigrant on the road,
Talk with her, hear her story, learn from her fear.
O God who walks main roads and back roads,
grant that the stories we hear
may open our eyes and strengthen our resolve
to offer extreme hospitality,
sharing our table and our bread
with those who are often left behind.
Magdalena I. García is a PC(USA) Minister of Word and Sacrament and a hospice chaplain for Vitas Healthcare in Chicago. She is a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary and a recipient of the 2008 PC(USA) Women of Faith Award. Her personal blog is justleros.blogspot.com. Permission is given to use the content in worship with credit to the author and blog. For permission to re-print through other means, please write to magdalenagarcia@comcast.net.
Hospitalidad extrema
Un recurso para la liturgia dominical del 30 de abril
por Magdalena I. García
Pero ellos lo obligaron a quedarse. Le dijeron: ‘Quédate con nosotros, porque ya es tarde, y es casi de noche’. Y Jesús entró y se quedó con ellos. – Lucas 24:29
Lea el pasaje aquí: Lucas 24:13-35
Ese extraño viajero del camino:
Habla con él, oye su historia, aprende de sus reflexiones.
Esa mendiga desamparada del camino:
Habla con ella, oye su historia, aprende de su perspectiva.
Ese hombre desempleado del camino:
Habla con él, oye su historia, aprende de sus luchas.
Esa mujer golpeada del camino:
Habla con ella, oye su historia, aprende de su rabia.
Ese ex prisionero del camino:
Habla con él, oye su historia, aprende de su desilusión.
Esa pareja LGBTQ del camino:
Habla con ella, oye su historia, aprende de su peregrinaje.
Ese joven negro del camino:
Habla con él, oye su historia, aprende de su frustración.
Esa adolescente embarazada del camino:
Habla con ella, oye su historia, aprende de su dilema.
Esa persona con necesidades especiales del camino:
Habla con él, oye su historia, aprende de su persistencia.
Esa familia con duelo del camino:
Habla con ella, oye su historia, aprende de su dolor.
Ese niño abandonado del camino:
Habla con él, oye su historia, aprende de su aislamiento.
Ese inmigrante estigmatizado del camino:
Habla con ella, oye su historia, aprende de su miedo.
Dios que caminas las vías principales y los caminos secundarios,
concede que las historias que escuchemos
abran nuestros ojos y fortalezcan nuestra determinación
de ofrecer hospitalidad extrema,
compartiendo nuestra mesa y nuestro pan
con quienes a menudo quedan relegadxs.
Magdalena I. García es Ministra de la Palabra y los Sacramentos en la IP(EUA) y capellana de hospicio para Vitas Healthcare en Chicago. Se graduó del Seminario Teológico McCormick y recibió el Premio a las Mujeres de Fe de su denominación en el 2008. Su blog personal es justleros.blogspot.com. Se concede permiso para usar el contenido en la adoración dando crédito a la autora y al blog. Para reproducir por otros medios, escriba a: magdalenagarcia@comcast.net.