Today's readings focus our attention on the importance of
hospitality. The first reading from
Genesis 18:1-10, is one of the great stories of welcome and hospitality in
all of scripture. At a time when most
people were nomadic, a person's life could depend on the hospitality of
others. Generous hospitality towards
strangers was a duty. Abraham fulfilled
his duty by welcoming three strangers, offering them water to bathe their feet
and providing them with a great feast.
For their gracious hospitality, Abraham and Sara received the gift of a
son. Jesus lived a nomadic existence
during the years of his active ministry.
Just a few weeks ago, we heard him tell a potential follower, “Foxes
have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to
rest his head.” Jesus relied on the
generosity of others to meet most of his basic needs. Today's gospel, Luke 10:38-42, is about
Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus into their home for a meal.
There is a tendency
to regard the Martha and Mary story as promoting consecrated religious life
over secular life. So, most people roll
right over the story, moving on to something more palatable. However, as I reflected on these few verses
in St. Luke's gospel, it occurred to me that they present a very important
message for all of us today. This story
is about personal hospitality. It is
about slowing down and listening. It is
about getting off the treadmill of life to spend quality time with God and with
each other. Our lives are a frenzy of activity. Like Martha, most of us are "are anxious
and worried about many things" (Luke 10:41). We dash from home to work, to school, to
extracurricular activities and to church.
We can't fit all the demands on us into a twenty-four-hour day. We eat fast food because we don't have time
to sit down and enjoy a family meal except on special occasions and
holidays. Our lives are so full of
activity that most of us have no time to stop until something catastrophic
happens.
When he dropped in on Martha and Mary, Jesus was on his way
to Jerusalem. He knew that his death was
imminent. Had Martha realized what was
going on, she probably would have joined Mary at the feet of Jesus to savor
every word he spoke. Mary offered Jesus
quiet attentiveness. She sat and she
listened. Jesus invites all of us to
sit quietly and listen. Slow down, take
some time out, sit and listen to what Jesus has to say to you.
Loving God and Father,
you draw near to us in Christ
and make yourself our guest.
Amid the cares of our daily lives,
make us attentive to your voice
and alert to your presence,
that we may treasure your word above all else.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
