Honor everyone. (1Peter 2:17)

My wife and I just enjoyed several great days in New York City. We were there to hear our son's high school choir sing in the National High School Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall. It was a stellar night, and we were really proud of the work that the kids put into this event. Their performance of Mozart's Requiem with the Orchestra of St. Luke's was phenomenal! (And that's not just parental pride speaking!)

While in New York, Lisa and I got to know Daniel, the 22 year-old bellman at our hotel. Daniel is from Brooklyn, and the pride he has in his work exudes with a Brooklyn-sized personality combined with a confident, gentle hospitality.

When we arrived, Daniel informed us that we were staying at "his" hotel and that if we needed anything he would take care of us. Every morning Daniel greeted us by name, engaged us in conversation, and would say, "I'm here until 3:00. Let me know if you need reservations, suggestions, or any help at all." When he heard about our concert plans, he got us connected with a great restaurant that provided us free stretch-limo service to the concert on Saturday night. The pride and ownership that he had in his job allowed us to arrive in style.

Daniel has something important to teach our congregations about the nature and importance of hospitality. So many of our congregations have formal and informal rules about our life together that can be tricky for a stranger to navigate. Whether it's the shape of the liturgy, when to sit or stand, where to find the nursery, or whether it's ok to put your kids in Sunday school, navigating the intricacies of Sunday morning can be a scary experience for visitors and guests. But true hospitality includes more than just making people feel comfortable. Hospitality honors the inherent worth of everyone whom we encounter.

One morning, I had the opportunity to sip a cup of coffee and watch Daniel work an especially busy lobby. There were people arriving for check-in. Some of them had particular (I’d say picky) requests for their stay. Some rooms weren’t ready and bags needed to be stored. There were those needing to check out and catch a cab. One woman needed to check on tickets for a show. Daniel handled the multitude of requests with grace and a smile, even as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. How was he able to manage all of this? This was “his” hotel.

Christian hospitality arises from one’s engagement in the mission of God. When we embrace the fact that God has called us to participate in God’s mission to heal, bless, redeem, and restore this world, the shape of our life changes. Our priorities, our purchases, and our productivity take on a different look. Our life matters because this is our mission. 

"God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope through the sacrament of baptism. By water and the Word God delivers us from sin and death and raises us to new life in Jesus Christ. We are united with all the baptized in the one body of Christ, anointed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and joined in God's mission for the life of the world."  Holy Baptism, Evangelical Lutheran Worship