09/06/2026
Bishop Guli, bishop of Chelmsford:
“To see Christ in the stranger - we ourselves must be conformed to Christ – we must become more Christ like. Not only are we emulating Christ, in kindness towards and recognition of others, we are also aligning ourselves with God’s ultimate generosity through Christ’s incarnation and his sacrifice on the cross. So, to truly recognise Christ in the stranger is costly, for it means creating space for the stranger, not just to be welcomed and allowed a small corner whilst they learn to conform to our ways, but space to be who they are; to contribute, perhaps even to bring fresh insights and to challenge our ways. And to create space in this way may sometimes mean giving up something of what we consider our own, something precious and greatly valued.”
“My sense is that it’s often harder to be a good guest than a good host. A host has an element of power and control, is on home turf and sets the rules, as it were. A guest is vulnerable, on unknown territory, trying to fit in with what is expected. The challenge of faith is to learn to be both: host and guest as the situation requires.
Receiving well – being guests rather than hosts - requires a change of mind-set. We are not just about inviting people in, being welcoming and expecting them to become like us, but we are challenged ourselves to be prepared to change in the encounter so that together we become a new creation. This is much more difficult and involves taking risks and letting go of our priorities and our fears.”
“A favourite quote of mine from the 13thcentury Persian poet, Rumi, who said, “There is a field beyond right and wrong, I’ll meet you there”.
Maybe, just maybe, that field beyond right and wrong is the place where each of us can meet Christ in the other most fully, and maybe it’s no surprise that the Christian icon of redemption is of a man offering love whilst hanging on a cross.”
