Dining with Strangers

The mall food courts in Guatemala City are very different from those I visited in the US. When I came back from four years away from my country, one of the first outings we had was to the mall. Mall runs and window-shopping are common practices among most city folk in Guatemala. We especially like doing this on Sunday afternoons. Food courts get packed—to the point that families usually have to split up to find a spot to eat. It’s crazy, and I bet many of you reading this are already cringing at the thought.

The layout of these food courts is pretty interesting. Tables are all touching each other, basically creating twenty-people tables. There is no room to separate them, so—whether you like it or not—you usually eat lunch with strangers.

And that brings us to today’s Bible passage. Shortly after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus appeared in disguise to two of His disciples, walking along the road to Emmaus with them. Even though Jesus was a stranger to these disciples, they still invited Him over for dinner at their place. Jesus accepted and ate with them. And He broke the bread! When that happened, the disciples recognized Him… and then He vanished.

Is it too bold to say that maybe by having lunch with strangers—even at such a common place as a food court—we might be dining with Jesus, welcoming Him to have lunch with us? Is it even crazier to think that when others are hosts to us, we might recognize Jesus in them?

Hospitality is an opportunity to show and remember Jesus’ love and presence. It’s a chance to recognize and proclaim that Jesus stepped in to dwell with us even when we were estranged from Him (John 1:14; Romans 5:8). • Andres Lopez

• As Christians, how can we (safely) welcome the stranger among us into our lives?

• How can you reach out to the outcasts in your school?

• Who is a trusted Christian adult—such as a camp counselor, pastor, or youth leader—you can talk with about what practicing hospitality looks like?

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Luke 24:13-35