Fr. Gabriel UDOH

 

Beloved in Christ, our readings today focus on hospitality and contemplation. It’s a time to think about our values and actions.                       The story of Abraham’s hospitality in Genesis and Mary’s contemplation in Luke’s Gospel are key. They show us the importance of service and devotion. Reflecting on these readings, we are asked to look at our lives. How do we show hospitality and contemplation every day? Put differently, how do we welcome or treat those we do not know or create time to listen & meditate on the word of God?                                     

It is important we as Christians spend a lot of time each day at the feet of Jesus. Jesus invites all of us who are worried and distracted by many things to sit at his feet each day and rest in his presence, to hear his words of grace and truth and come to know his love for us.

This is needed each day: attention to our guest who is also our HOST with so many abundant gifts to give.

“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door to me, I will enter his house, and dine with him, and he with me,” ( Rev.3 :20)            Looking deeper into the gospel, Jesus  comes to Bethany, He is welcomed into the home.  Martha busies herself with the tasks of serving her guest, meanwhile Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words rather than assuming the role expected of women in her culture. Here she assumes the posture of a student learning at the feet of a rabbi, a role traditionally reserved for men. Martha gets upset that her sister is not helping her but Jesus chides her for her distraction and worry and praises Mary for her choosing the better part. The problem with Martha is not her serving, but that she is worried and distracted. Martha’s distraction and worry leave no room for the most important aspect of hospitality i.e. paying attention to the guest.

In fact, she breaks all the rules of hospitality by trying to embarrass her sister in front of her guest and drawing Him into a family dispute and even accuses Jesus of not caring about her. This worry and distraction prevent her from being truly present to Jesus and cause her to drive a wedge between her sister and herself, and between Jesus and herself. She has missed the “one thing needed” for hospitality, to listen to your guest.

Dear brothers and sisters, there is a temptation in our modern culture of hectic schedules and the relentless pursuit of productivity to measure our worth by how busy we are, by how much we accomplish, or by how well we meet the expectations of others.

Many of us like Martha are pulled in different directions, feeling worried and distracted by so many things. It is true that much of our business and distraction stems from wanting to care and provide for our families, we want to give our children every opportunity to enrich their lives, we want to serve our neighbours and the Lord.

So where is the balance? If all our activities leave us no time to be still in the Lord’s presence and listen to his word, we are likely to end up more anxious and troubled.

Both listening and doing, receiving God’s word, and serving others are basic and vital to our Christian life. Trying to live a faithful and authentic Christian way of life without being nourished by prayer and the sacraments is like expecting good fruit from an uprooted tree. We are not told the end of the story, whether the sisters were reconciled, whether they were all able to enjoy the meal together, whether Martha was finally able to sit and give her full attention to Jesus.

Let us note: We are called to spend time each day at the feet of Jesus (blessed sacrament) to bless the day for us, strengthen, direct, protect, deliver, inspire, comfort, love, provide and  to nourish our bodies and souls as we face the huddles or journey of life.  The point is we cannot cut Jesus away or side-line Him (John 15:5).              

Furthermore;  it is important we set our priorities right; which is putting Jesus in the center of everything we are doing or want to do, for He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12 :2).