Word to the Wise
Sunday, July 18, 2010 - Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
[Genesis 18:1-10a; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42]The Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them......[Genesis] "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
Both these scenes, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament, are familiar to us. Perhaps the second one is more familiar, especially to enthusiastic hostesses or to religious who have used the passage as a way of putting contemplative life above active life! The first, however, is immortalized in the famous Rublev icon which shows three angels seated at a table, inviting the viewer to join them! God appears to Abraham in the form of the three angels, to whom Abraham shows traditional and lavish hospitality. Little does he know that this will result in he and his wife, Sarah, conceiving a child in their old age who will continue Abraham's line and result, eventually, in the child who would grow up to visit Martha and Mary! Hospitality can be an occasion of great hope! Poor Martha gets bad press at times. The lavish hospitality of Abraham is not unusual in a Middle East culture which regards hospitality as a core value. So Martha is doing what she considers to be the primary and sacred duty of the hostess. She also thinks Mary should be doing the same. Jesus, however, gently reminds her that discipleship is more important even than hospitality. Mary has assumed the position of a disciple - sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to his word. Hospitality in both these scenes is a sign of faith. It is because of Abraham's faith, not his menu, that a child will be born to him and his (doubting?) wife, Sarah! Martha and Mary are both women of faith, but express it in different ways with different priorities! The Lord can be a surpising guest, but we have to keep the invitation open. AMEN
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