Abstract

“Hospitalityµ is defined as a set of practices designed to regulate the arrival and stay of a foreigner in a given “territoryµ. Not only does it interest a wide range of academic disciplines, but it also arouses a great deal of emotion and contrasting reactions in public opinion. This article looks at the reasons for this interest, when in many ancient societies such a practice was taken for granted and even represented a sacred “lawµ. After a brief historical review, it discusses what we should call the “paradoxµ of hospitality and places it within the perspective of biblical messianism, showing how it makes “holinessµ plausible as the ultimate expression of the identity of Christ Jesus and as the mystery of the world.