The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess our role in hospitality and care by attending to the “better part” as revealed by the Spirit.
The Reading from Genesis describes the hospitality shown to Abraham’s Visitors.
* [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).
* [18:3] Abraham addresses the leader of the group, whom he does not yet recognize as the Lord; in the next two verses he speaks to all three men. The other two are later (Gn 19:1) identified as angels. The shifting numbers and identification of the visitors are a narrative way of expressing the mysterious presence of God.
* [18:6] Three measures: Hebrew seah; three seahs equal one ephah, about half a bushel.
* [18:8] Curds: a type of soft cheese or yogurt. (Genesis, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 15 presents a liturgical scrutiny.
* [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.
* [15:1] Your tent: the Temple could be referred to as “tent” (Ps 61:5; Is 33:20), a reference to the tent of the wilderness period and the tent of David (2 Sm 6:17; 7:2), predecessors of the Temple. Holy mountain: a venerable designation of the divine abode (Ps 2:6; 3:5; 43:3; 48:2, etc.).
* [15:5] Lends no money at interest: lending money in the Old Testament was often seen as assistance to the poor in their distress, not as an investment; making money off the poor by charging interest was thus forbidden (Ex 22:24; Lv 25:36–37; Dt 23:20). (Psalms, PSALM 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Reading from the Letter to the Colossians proclaims 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.)
The Gospel of Luke describes the “better part” of the hospitality of 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).
* [10:42] There is need of only one thing: some ancient versions read, “there is need of few things”; another important, although probably inferior, reading found in some manuscripts is, “there is need of few things, or of one.” (Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ, finds himself hearing the Word differently. He is retired from an active ministry, now living in a Jesuit health care community, and going to dialysis three days a week.
I hear Jesus say to me more directly, “Andy, only one thing is necessary now. Let go of a pile of worries and anxieties. Listen to me. Listen to me tell you I love you. Listen to me forgive you with tender mercy. Let yourself enjoy my affection for you. Feel comforted and enjoy just being with me. Me in you; you in me. “
Dear Lord of my life, thank you for this deep gift today, inviting me to receive your love and your grace, being rich enough and asking for nothing more. Please bless your people with these gifts of your love. Let us be a welcoming, merciful church, missionary to the core, announcing the Good News of your love, offering us a vision of a church of Justice for all. Amen. (Alexander, 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 Meditation on Genesis 18:1-10 takes a look at how Abraham responded to God’s presence to see how we can respond to him today.
So remember Abraham when you come into God’s mysterious, surprising presence today. Let the promise of his love fill your heart with reverence. Generously offer him your attention, your worship, the best of who you are. As you do, you’ll come to see him more and more clearly. Just like Abraham.
“Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to me in mystery. Help me to respond to you wholeheartedly!” (Meditation on Genesis 18:1-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that in Genesis the three visitors to Abraham are shown enormous hospitality as an important act for desert people. Are they the Trinity of New Testament times? An enormous amount of food shows Abraham’s generosity. The Letter to the Colossians is attributed to Paul even with theology and vocabulary that are different. What is lacking in the suffering of Christ may be to make it present again and give witness as a visible sign of invisible grace. When we suffer we can show our belief. Martha and Mary and the hospitality is compared to choosing the better portion. Is contemplative better than active? Mary is spending time with her guest. We are nudged to think about the people already in front of us. Friar Jude suggests we might do a little less and spend more time with family and neighbours in listening and dialogue at a holiday meal like Mary.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, explores how getting in touch with our grief allows us to transform our anger. Collective greed is killing America today. We make everything about money—everything—and injustices like these will naturally leave us exasperated and ultimately sad. How can we look at the suffering taking place in Gaza, Ukraine, or Sudan and be anything but sad? It’s sad beyond words or concepts. Spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr describes the compassion that can arise as we experience both our anger and our grief.
Anger is a natural response when we let the pain of the world into our hearts. It is not the only appropriate response, of course. However, when we can welcome the fire of the Prophets into our own lives, we tap into the true nature of righteousness and draw the vigor necessary to step up in service to that which is greater than ourselves. We remember our essential interconnectedness with all that is and we are motivated to act on the impulse to protect the web of inter-being with all our might.
Personal and planetary grief are inextricable. Our encounter with the manifold losses that characterize the human experience can till the soil of our hearts so that we are more available to the suffering of other beings and the earth we share. When we have been broken, we recognize the brokenness around us and compassion naturally grows. Sorrow can be paralyzing at first, but compassion, which can sometimes take the form of anger, is a wellspring that offers infinite sustenance. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
We stop to allow the Spirit to guide our response to the need for hospitality in serving the people we encounter in the mysterious union of what they need and what heals our souls.
References
Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-20-2025
Colossians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?
Genesis, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/18?1
Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?38
Meditation on Genesis 18:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/07/20/1336075/
Psalms, PSALM 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/15?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Grief, Anger, and Compassion. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/grief-anger-and-compassion/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are Anxious - One Thing Is Needful. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 20, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jul20
No comments:
Post a Comment