February 21

Matthew 18:1 – 7

Link to Bible Verses: Matthew 18

Hospitality: Giving space to others without demands or expectations.

According to Jesus in this passage, we will never be free of sin in this world: “Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” Understanding sin as separation from God, from Love, helps me make sense of Jesus’ words. I often find myself separated from the conscious awareness of Love, and it is in and through those moments that I am more likely to spread that sense of separation, intentionally or not. And, as Jesus warns, woe to me for the ways I feel afterwards.

Contemplative practices help me nourish the conscious awareness of Divine Love, and I tend to be more open to moments of intentionality, of conscious choice, throughout my days. Maybe more importantly, when I am consciously aware of God and God’s love, I am more apt to act through that Love toward myself and others. In Benedictine speak, I am more likely to create hospitable and unconditional space for myself and others. And then flows the joy, the laughter, and the gratitude. Something kind of childlike about that, isn’t there?

Thank you to Linda Land-Closson for writing our 2026 Lenten Devotions.