Homily:
Sixteenth Sunday Year C
Reading
1: We have a reading that speaks on the surface of hospitality. Being in a
desert area with a few trees around, one does not get visitors regularly. So when
Abraham sees the three men, he was excited and wanted to show them hospitality
by bathing their feet and providing a meal for them. That is the surface view.
But let’s go beneath the surface.
Did
you notice the back and forth between the Lord and the three men. It begins
with the Lord appearing to Abraham and ends with what the Lord said. In between
it refers to the three men. Sounds confusing, but it isn’t. The early Church
Fathers interpreted this and other similar passages as the initial revelation
of the true identity of God: Three Persons but one God. It is not that the author would have been
aware of this as he wrote. But God, inspiring him, was revealing the seeds of
this mystery of faith which becomes clearer through Jesus and after Pentecost.
The
first message is that of hospitality; the second, that of initial revelation of
the fuller mystery of the Trinity. The third message is the prophetic promise
made to Abraham decades earlier—your wife Sarah will have a son. After all
these years of waiting, now when Sarah is beyond the age of child bearing Abraham
is told of a son in a year. What is not included in this passage is that,
hearing this, Sarah laughed, expressing her disbelief. But as we know, the
prophetic promised was fulfilled. God is faithful.
Reading
2: Paul writes something which has raised questions, namely, “in my flesh I am
filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” If we believe that
Christ’s suffering and death on the cross was all sufficient for our salvation,
what does Paul mean?
Over
the years as the Church reflected on Paul's words, it became clearer that Christ,
as part of his sufferings, included our sufferings for his sake as part of the
redemptive act. It is not that he needed our sufferings to complete his sacrifice,
but he wanted our sufferings to be united to his sufferings. Why? He wanted to
give meaning and purpose to our sufferings. The unique importance of what Jesus
did on the cross for our salvation is not changed. Instead, our sufferings,
united to his, changes us from suffering with anger and negativity to suffering
with surrender and love. We have seen people who suffer without purpose or hope
of meaning and are bitter. We have seen those who embrace their sufferings and
unite them to Jesus’. What a difference the two are.
Gospel:
Hospitality is the first connection with the first reading. Background. Jesus
is a friend of Mary, Martha and their brother, Lazarus. When in the area of
Jerusalem, he would stay at their house outside of Jerusalem in the mountain
close to the Mount of Olives.
When
Jesus came with his apostles, Mary, Martha and Lazarus welcomed and showed them
hospitality by making them comfortable, probably washing their feet and preparing
a meal.
But
the Gospel speaks of two activities going on. Mary is sitting at the feet of
Jesus, listening and reflecting on his teachings. Martha is preparing a meal.
On the surface it seems that Mary should be helping Martha. At least that is
what Martha felt. She is anxious and troubled about many things.
What
Mary is doing is good for Mary and what Martha is doing is good for her. Both
are good, but one is better. Martha is focused on doing for Jesus, while Mary is
focus on Jesus. Martha rebukes Jesus for not telling Mary to help her. Jesus
shares an important teaching with Martha.
There
are many good things in life, but some may distract us from the better. Mary
has chosen not just a good thing, but the more important thing, namely,
focusing her attention on Jesus, seeking a deeper oneness with Jesus. Martha
has chosen a good thing, preparing a meal.
It
is a matter of both/and rather than either/or. Our life should revolve around
doing what needs to be done at the moment, but also on spending time and
focusing on the Lord and his teachings. For in the end what will be the most
important aspect of heaven? Gazing on the face of God as well as enjoying the
bliss of eternity.
