Image: © He Qi All rights Reserved, heqiart.com, Used by permission.

Hospitality opens the heart to God and neighbor, transforming relationships through attentiveness and love. Mary and Elizabeth’s visitation models a sacred exchange of support and grace. How can you embody true hospitality by listening deeply and welcoming others with an open heart?

Luke 1:39-56

This session invites participants into contemplative prayer with the goal of drawing closer to God while fostering deeper connections with others. It revisits Juliet Benner’s Contemplative Vision, focusing on the theme of hospitality as a spiritual practice that opens hearts to God and neighbor alike. Hospitality is presented not merely as a social custom but as a profound expression of a heart transformed by God’s love.

Benner traces hospitality’s roots to ancient Jewish traditions and Christian monastic practices, where welcoming strangers was a sacred duty. Biblical stories like Abraham’s reception of three strangers and the Rule of St. Benedict’s teaching to treat every guest as Christ illustrate this wider understanding of hospitality. True hospitality begins when personal preoccupations are set aside, creating a sacred space where grace and love can be shared authentically.

The session emphasizes attentiveness as a key component of hospitality. Through contemplative prayer, individuals cultivate inner stillness that enables them to be fully present and responsive to others. This sacred space becomes a place where God is the true host, empowering people to listen deeply and offer care with compassion.

The biblical account of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-45) serves as a focal point, portraying Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Their warm exchange exemplifies hospitality in action—sharing joy, blessing, and mutual support. Elizabeth’s joyful response to Mary’s news symbolizes the spiritual blessing of welcoming and affirming others in their journeys. Participants are invited to reflect on how this encounter speaks to their own experiences of hospitality.

Attention then turns to He Qi’s painting The Visitation, which blends Chinese folk art and Western classical influences to portray the encounter with vivid colors and bold lines. Mary’s humble posture and Elizabeth’s gesture of acceptance highlight the sacredness of their meeting and the importance of attentive listening. The symbolism of Elizabeth’s empty container suggests openness to receiving the Spirit and the stories of others. The session closes by encouraging participants to embody this spirit of hospitality in their own lives, deepening their relationship with God and those around them.