SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
17 JULY 2016
Our
Scripture readings today present us with two ancient versions of the Food
Channel. Abraham hurries and fusses over
his visitors. He and Sarah prepare a
lavish meal that would have fed hundreds of people. The meal includes nearly 80 pounds of bread
and 700 pounds of meat. His servants and
neighbors probably stuffed themselves for days on the leftovers. Martha also hurries and fusses over her
visitor. Saint Luke does not tell us
what is on her menu. But it must have be
a feast, because she calls out for more help in the kitchen.
Abraham’s
visitors turn out to be messengers sent directly from God. In return for his hospitality, they promise
that he and Sarah will bear a son (even though the two of them are older than I
am!). Martha’s guest is the Eternal Word
made flesh. Instead of praising her
efforts to provide a meal that have impressed any foodie, Jesus corrects
her. To those of us who enjoy cooking
and offering hospitality, the words of Jesus might seem unfair. He appears to encourage those who do not
pitch in to sit around while we do all the work.
Years ago, when I served at Saint
Monica in Mishawaka, the parish hosted a weeklong mission. The pastor was very impressed with so many
people who had gathered to pray every evening.
So, on the last day, the pastor heaped lavish praise on all those people
who had gathered in the church for prayer every day. He had completely forgotten about the army of
parishioners who had worked in the basement to prepare food for the participants. As he went back to the presider’s chair, one
of the women stood up and shouted, “What about us Martha’s?” All of us acknowledged their humble service
and went downstairs for a final meal.
Like those
parishioners, Jesus would have deprived of a meal without Martha’s
efforts. But that is not the point. Martha is so busy in her hurrying and fussing
around that she cannot focus on her guest.
Instead, she gets annoyed at her sister, Mary. Echoing the customs of the time, Martha
implies that a woman’s place is in the kitchen, not sitting at the feet of a
rabbi. She so focuses on the physical
preparations that she cannot hear what he has to say. Abraham hurries and fusses over his visitors
also. But in addition to attending to
the physical needs of his visitors, he opens himself to hear the word they have
to speak. Abraham understands that the
better part of hospitality is paying attention to the guests and what they have
to offer. In a sense, Abraham combines
both Martha and Mary in entertaining divine visitors.
Like her, we are active disciples
who roll up our sleeves and work to provide humble service. As Saint Paul points out, the invitation to
become disciples is extended to everyone, regardless of our gender, race, age,
or state in life. Writing from his
prison cell, he knows from his own experience that following Christ will
involve suffering and the cross. He
argues that his suffering is filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of
Christ. In making that statement, he
does not imply that Christ’s suffering and death lacked anything. Instead, he tells us that our suffering can
continue the power of the Paschal Mystery and positively affect the Church, the
Body of Christ, when we place our suffering and crosses within the context of
Christ’s suffering and cross.
As active disciples, we need to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to
him, as Mary did. If we focus only on
the work we do, we can easily become burned out and become resentful that
others do not pitch in. Instead of
building up the Body of Christ through redemptive suffering, we entertain thoughts
of self-pity. Like Abraham, we need to
combine the virtues of both Martha and Mary.
We spend time sitting at the feet of the divine guest and listening
carefully to him. Then, we can serve him
better in our families and in his Church.
No comments:
Post a Comment