A Midsummer's Reflection Series

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Meditation 10: Matthew 8:14-17

The Bedroom, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), Arles, October 1888

The New Testament presents many examples of Christian hospitality. Sometimes we find Jesus as the example of extending hospitality to others. We also find others extending hospitality to Jesus. Each of these examples teaches us important lessons. In Matthew 8:14-17, we find one of the accounts of Peter’s mother-in-law extending hospitality to Jesus. 

Jesus first heals Peter’s sick mother-in-law, but then, once she is physically well again, she lives hospitality with Jesus who is staying in her son-in-law’s home. The Gospel of Matthew informs us that as soon as she was well, “she rose and served him” (8:15). They then opened their house to the sick who came to be healed by Jesus. 

On some level, whenever we serve others, we are acting like Peter’s mother-in-law and are serving Jesus. The twin commands of charity—love God and love neighbor—are inextricably bound to each other. When we love God, that love must, of necessity, overflow to love of neighbor. At the same time, when we love neighbor, for love of God, we are loving God through loving our neighbor. Thus, acts of hospitality and service are means of loving God through the love and care we show to our neighbor. 

Lord Jesus, help us to recognize you in those we serve. Help us to live love of God by loving our neighbor in acts of hospitality and service.

Dr. Jeffrey Morrow, Ph.D. is a professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and the Director of the St. Paul Studies Center at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He spent 15 years as a professor of theology at Seton Hall University’s Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. In his final year in that role, Dr. Morrow worked on the Preaching as Hospitality Formation Program, writing these reflections on Scripture through a lens of hospitality. 

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