Daily Reflection for July 17, 2018

Some old men were entertaining themselves at Scetis by having a meal together; among them was Abba John. A venerable priest got up to offer drink, but nobody accepted any from him, except John the Dwarf. They were surprised and said to him, ‘How is it that you, the youngest, dared to let yourself be served by the priest?’ Then he said to them, ‘When I get up to offer drink, I am glad when everyone accepts it, since I am receiving my reward; that is the reason, then, that I accepted it, so that he also might gain his reward and not be grieved by seeing that no-one would accept anything from him.’ When they heard -this, they were all filled with wonder and edification at his discretion.

Hospitality has always been practiced in the monastic tradition. For the sake of guests, desert fathers would break their fasts and offer them what hospitality they could. In this way, Christ is also served.