The virtue of hospitality, properly understood, reaches far beyond conventional courtesy; it is a generosity of heart and spirit always ready to welcome the stranger into its midst. At its very best, hospitality is a communion, the surrender of ourselves to one another.
Such was the hospitality offered by Abraham to the three strangers approaching his tent at the hottest part of the day. Here was hospitality without restraint. Precious water was expended in the washing of their feet. Without counting the cost, a banquet of fresh bread, tender calf, milk and cream was prepared and laid before these strangers.
