The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the experiences on our journey when we are intimately aware of the Presence of God.
In the reading from the Book of Genesis, a son is promised to Abraham and Sarah.
* [18:1] Chapters 18 and 19 combined form a continuous narrative, concluding the story of Abraham and his nephew Lot that began in 13:2–18. The mysterious men visit Abraham in Mamre to promise him and Sarah a child the following year (18:1–15) and then visit Lot in Sodom to investigate and then to punish the corrupt city (19:1–29). Between the two visits, Abraham questions God about the justice of punishing Sodom (18:16–33). At the end of the destruction of Sodom, there is a short narrative about Lot as the ancestor of Moab and the Ammonites (19:30–38). (Genesis, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Psalm 15 asks who shall abide in God’s Sanctuary?
* [Psalm 15] The Psalm records a liturgical scrutiny at the entrance to the Temple court (cf. Ps 24:3–6; Is 33:14b–16). The Israelite wishing to be admitted had to ask the Temple official what conduct was appropriate to God’s precincts. Note the emphasis on virtues relating to one’s neighbor. (Psalms, PSALM 15, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter to the Colossians declares Paul’s Interest in the Colossians showing Christ in Us.
* [1:24] What is lacking: although variously interpreted, this phrase does not imply that Christ’s atoning death on the cross was defective. It may refer to the apocalyptic concept of a quota of “messianic woes” to be endured before the end comes; cf. Mk 13:8, 19–20, 24 and the note on Mt 23:29–32. Others suggest that Paul’s mystical unity with Christ allowed him to call his own sufferings the afflictions of Christ. (Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Visits Martha and Mary.
* [10:38–42] The story of Martha and Mary further illustrates the importance of hearing the words of the teacher and the concern with women in Luke.
* [10:39] Sat beside the Lord at his feet: it is remarkable for first-century Palestinian Judaism that a woman would assume the posture of a disciple at the master’s feet (see also Lk 8:35; Acts 22:3), and it reveals a characteristic attitude of Jesus toward women in this gospel (see Lk 8:2–3). (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Barbara Dilly comments that Fortitude is a big spiritual gift in this verse ( Luke 8:15) in Luke, but if we look carefully, there are two other spiritual gifts at work here. Keeping the word with a generous spirit is easy with the gift of the fear of the Lord. It strengthens our desire to not offend God and to serve God out of more than a sense of duty. It arises out of love. In that sense, it is like the gift of piety, which means the willingness to worship and serve God is motivated by a profound sense of reverence for a loving Father. It is not difficult, then, to see where this verse helps us understand the faith of Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament story today and the faith of both Mary and Martha in the New Testament lesson. All were seeking to keep the word of God with a generous heart in one way or another. But Jesus reminded Martha that she should be motivated more out of reverence than a sense of duty.
As I reflect more deeply on what this means for me, I am challenged by this verse to strengthen my love for God more than growing stronger in my own resolve to become more useful. To avoid acting out of a sense of duty, I need to show more reverence and more generosity toward God in my heart first, and then I will no doubt be blessed with a greater harvest in the way that I keep the Word. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Body of Christ needs hearers and doers of the Word,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"'Virtue does not have a single form. In the example of Martha and Mary, there is added the busy devotion of the one and the pious attention of the other to the Word of God, which, if it agrees with faith, is preferred even to the very works, as it is written: 'Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.' So let us also strive to have what no one can take away from us, so that not careless but diligent hearing may be granted to us. For even the seeds of the heavenly Word itself are likely to be taken away if they are sowed by the wayside (Luke 8:5,12). Let the desire for wisdom lead you as it did Mary. It is a greater and more perfect work. Do not let service divert the knowledge of the heavenly Word... Nor is Martha rebuked in her good serving, but Mary is preferred because she has chosen the better part for herself, for Jesus abounds with many blessings and bestows many gifts. And therefore the wiser chooses what she perceives as foremost."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.83-86) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us offers a Meditation on Genesis 18:1-10.
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the exaggerated hospitality of Abraham that went beyond the obligation to refresh desert travellers as responsibility for their well being. We are called to become living Sacraments to make Christ present and visible through our actions. Friar Jude reminds us of the false choice between action and contemplation in our lives even as he wonders if we would visit Mary or Martha on Thanksgiving.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces the writing of twentieth-century women mystics. Each one shares her experience of God as unconditional and unsurpassed love from her unique background. Father Richard Rohr believes this is true for all mystics. Father Richard has found great inspiration over the past several years in the writings of Jewish mystic Etty Hillesum (1914–1943), in her letters from the Westerbork transit camp.
You have made me so rich, oh God, please let me share out Your beauty with open hands. My life has become an uninterrupted dialogue with You, oh God, one great dialogue. Sometimes when I stand in some corner of the camp, my feet planted on Your earth, my eyes raised toward Your heaven, tears sometimes run down my face, tears of deep emotion and gratitude. At night, too, when I lie in my bed and rest in You, oh God, tears of gratitude run down my face, and that is my prayer. I have been terribly tired for several days, but that too will pass. Things come and go in a deeper rhythm, and people must be taught to listen; it is the most important thing we have to learn in this life. I am not challenging You, oh God, my life is one great dialogue with You. I may never become the great artist I would really like to be, but I am already secure in You, God. Sometimes I try my hand at turning out small profundities and uncertain short stories, but I always end up with just one single word: God. And that says everything, and there is no need for anything more. And all my creative powers are translated into inner dialogues with You. The beat of my heart has grown deeper, more active, and yet more peaceful, and it is as if I were all the time storing up inner riches. [1] (Rohr, 2013)
We pray to be open to the both/and mystery as the Spirit presents opportunities for deeper connection with God in personal mystical contemplation and action to serve our neighbour.
References
Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?24
Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071722.html
Genesis, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/18?1
Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?38
Psalms, PSALM 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/15?2
Rohr, R. (2013, November 15). God Is the Beloved. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-is-the-beloved-2022-07-17/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 17, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul17
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