Houses for Strangers

When Christianity came out of the catacombs, one of the first things the universal council of Nicea did was to establish xenodochia – “houses for strangers – in every region. Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, for example, built such a structure on the edge of town. Its rooms were dedicated to the lodging and refreshment of poor, wayfaring strangers. Eventually a wing was added for those who were sick and needed bed care, then a separate ambulatory care wing, then a wing for the aged, another for the crippled, another for lepers, another for infectious diseases, another for care of foundlings and orphans. A crib was placed outside the foundling wing for any who might choose to deliver their newborn to the care of the Christians. Every day Basil sent out “guides” to find needy people and bring them in. The church in Caesarea ran a combination shelter, poorhouse, nursing home, orphanage, rehabilitation center and urgent care center. The church was a hospital for sinners.

-R. Wayne Willis, “Pastoral implications,” Lectionary Homiletics 13 (7) June 2002: 11

Health care reform is on my mind. It's also on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. But setting aside the legislation, I'm thinking about what it means to follow Jesus.

Here's what I believe. Jesus healed people. He saved them. The verb is the same: sozo. Salvation and healing are connected. They have the sense of deliverance, rescue, safety, preservation, cure, being made well. When we talk about health, we're talking about something at the core of Christian ethics. We're focused on a significant part of Jesus' ministry.

Is it any wonder Christians build hospitals? Is it any wonder we become doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and other medical professionals? We're walking along the healing path with Jesus. I wonder if insurance agents feel the same way. I know some do. They get into the business in part to make a living, but also because they know they are helping people secure the health care they need. The healing vocation can be practiced in a variety of careers.

You may have better ideas about health care reform than the Senate bill being passed by the House of Representatives. But as a Christian, I applaud whatever we can do to extend access to healing care to people who are at the margins, especially the poor. It's part of what it means to build "houses for strangers."

Along the Way, I wish you God’s peace on today’s stage of your Lenten spiritual journey. May Christ’s companionship bless you with confidence for the day, comfort you in trouble, and put a spring of joy in your step.