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Sunago means, approximately, collect or gather or invite or welcome. Jesus says we should do this thing ( sunago ) to the stranger ( xenos ). From the Greek work we get the English word synagogue , the place where you sunago . I think the best way to get a firm grasp on the word is to see it in context. It shows up 59 times in the New Testament, including 24 occurrences in Matthew’s Gospel. Here are the 24, with a sentence for each to identify the context. I.                     Gather people together for an assembly of some kind 1.        Matthew 2:4 : Herod assembled the chief priests and scribes and asked where the Messiah was to be born. 2.        Matthew 13:2 : Large crowds were gathered together around him. 3.        Matthew 22:34 : When the Pharisees heard that Je...

The extraordinarily powerful teaching about hospitality in Scripture and Tradition was lost for centuries. I do not understand clearly how that happened, but I think that  large part of the problem was that the teaching was obscured by the well-meaning but confused teaching tool called the "corporal works of mercy." I explained what I think happened in Knocking at Haven's Door .  The claim sounds extreme, so I've been looking at the whole teaching, including the "spiritual works of mercy." And I think that the list of "spiritual works" is even worse. The seven spiritual works of mercy are: 1.        To instruct the ignorant 2.        To counsel the doubtful 3.        To admonish the sinner 4.        To bear wrongs patiently 5.        To forgive offenses willingly 6.        To ...