MONDAY, July 13

Cynical woman that I am, I had previously read this passage and imagined a group of hungry men coming into a house where a sick woman can't even take a nap. But now I consider the double gift she is given. Her fever goes away, and she gets to provide hospitality to Jesus!

I returned from a church meeting one afternoon with a long to-do list rolling in my head. One of my husband's friends had shown up to help him in the barn, and I was glad because I could delve into my remodeling chores. I waved to them and headed to the house to change into work clothes.

But there on our patio sat the man's wife, smiling sweetly. With inward reluctance, I sat with her and began to visit. She asked about our house plans and shared that she had been restoring an old home, too. Soon my chore list evaporated. She and I drove to the closest joint to buy burgers for supper. The four of us sat around the patio table and talked until the locusts hummed at the moon. I don't remember what was on the to-do list, but I'll always remember the gift of  hospitality with this couple.

PRAY for the Diocese of Chile (Southern Cone)

Ps 25 * 9, 15; 1 Samuel 18:5-16, 27b-30; Acts 11:19-30

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