Hospitable: Making Room for People Like Jesus Did
"Rather, he must be hospitable..."
—Titus 1:8
We tend to think of hospitality as a personality trait. Some people are “just good at it”—they enjoy having people over, decorating their homes, making meals. But when Paul lists hospitality as a qualification for church leaders, he’s not talking about hosting brunch.
He’s talking about a lifestyle of welcome.
A heart that makes room.
A life that opens up to others with generosity, presence, and love.
What Does “Hospitable” Mean?
The Greek word used here is φιλόξενος (philoxenos), meaning:
“lover of strangers”
or “one who is kind to outsiders”
This isn’t just about being friendly to friends. It’s about creating space for those who don’t yet belong. The stranger. The newcomer. The forgotten. The awkward. The one with nothing to offer in return.
In the early Church—where gatherings happened in homes and believers often faced persecution—hospitality wasn’t optional. It was survival. And it was sacred.
Why This Matters in the Church
Hospitality is a Gospel reflex. We welcome others because we were welcomed by Christ (cf. Romans 15:7). Leaders in the Church must reflect that. If we are stewards of God’s household, then we need to act like the house belongs to Him—and the door is open.
Hospitality, in Catholic tradition, is also an act of mercy. The Catechism teaches:
“The works of mercy are charitable actions… among them giving shelter to the homeless, visiting the sick, and welcoming the stranger.”
—Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447
This isn't limited to literal shelter. It includes the way we welcome others into our lives, our parishes, our tables, and our attention.
Jesus, the Welcoming King
Jesus didn’t just eat with sinners—He sought them out. He welcomed the outcast. He dignified the overlooked. He touched the untouchable. Even when He was exhausted or interrupted, He made space for people.
And still today, He invites us to His table—the Eucharist—week after week. Not because we’re perfect guests, but because He’s the perfect Host.
Christian leaders, then, must not lead from a platform—but from a table.
A Word of Challenge
Hospitality isn’t easy. It costs time, energy, emotional capacity, sometimes even resources. It risks awkwardness. It gets messy. But that’s the point.
The Church isn’t meant to be polished—it’s meant to be open.
And our leadership should reflect that openness. Not just to those we already like or understand, but to those we don’t yet know how to love.
Final Thoughts
When Paul says leaders must be “hospitable,” he’s not setting a high bar—he’s describing a basic posture of the Christian life:
Make room. Welcome the outsider. Open your home. Open your heart.
Because we serve a Savior who made room for us.
Reflection Questions:
Do I make space in my life for people I don’t already know or understand?
Is my home—or heart—open to others, or guarded and closed off?
What simple act of welcome could I offer this week to reflect Christ’s hospitality?
