Readings: Gen 18:1-10; Col 1:24-28;
Lk 10:38-42
Prayer and Hospitality are not
mutually exclusive!
Last Sunday, we reflected on the story of the
Good Samaritan. The parable was prompted by a question by the teacher of the
law to Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus
answered him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
The lawyer’s answer was “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your
heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and
your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus told him, “Do this and you will live”.
Since the parable of the Good Samaritan emphasizes love of neighbor, today’s
readings highlight the love of “the Lord, your God”. God must
always be first in our lives, and we owe God adoration, loyalty, and worship.
Prayer in all its ramifications is a must for all Christians, and nothing
should take the place of giving God his due, our time, our talent, our
treasure, and our all.
In
the first reading, Abraham showed hospitality to strangers. He offered them a
place to rest and a meal to provide them with strength to continue their
journey. His kindness and hospitality did not go unrewarded. God promised his
wife a child: “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and
Sarah will then have a son” (Gen. 18:10). God revealed to Abraham that
he was on his way to Sodom and Gomorrah to destroy them due to their
iniquities. This allowed Abraham to intercede on behalf of Lot, his nephew, for
the land. God comes to us in many ways every day as a beggar on the street
corner, a stranger in need of shelter, immigrants running away from starvation
and oppressive and repressive government, the rich in need of a friend, or the
lonely in need of consolation and love. Like Abraham, Mary, and Martha, we must
reach out to them, for in helping them, we assist God himself. “So long
as you did it for the least of my people, you did it for me” (Mt.
25:40). When we give God our time in prayer and respond in generosity and
hospitality to Him, God takes us into confidence and provides for us beyond our
wildest dreams. Spending time in prayer is not a waste of time, but a time well
spent, freed to do things well with our power, strength, blessings, and
integrity. Prayer, according to St. Therese of Lisieux, “Is a surge of the
heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and
love, embracing both trial and joy”. Do not ever say you are too busy to
pray.
Jesus
is not condemning Martha for taking care of his physical needs, but Martha’s
attitude in doing so. She allowed herself to be anxious, worried, and
distracted by her serving to the point of feeling that what she did was far
more important than Mary’s. “Stop worrying, then, over questions like,
‘What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear’? The
unbelievers are always running after these things. Your heavenly Father knows
all that you need. Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and
all these things will be given to you besides. Enough, then, of worrying about
tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Today has troubles enough of its
own” (Mt. 6:31-34). Christ is telling us that we can be both Martha and
Mary without sacrificing one for the other. Lydia made the right combination,
responding like both Mary and Martha. First, she “listened” to the
Gospel message preached by Paul and then offered hospitality to him and his
companions (Acts 16:14-15).
To
be truly hospitable, we must have clarity of action, and that clarity can only
come through prayer. Prayer enables us to attune to the spirit of God, to
contemplate his blessings, and to recognize that in giving to those in need, be
it our time, our talent, or treasure, we reciprocate God’s hospitality and
kindness to us. In practicing hospitality, we recognize that we are only
stewards of what we have been gifted. Praying like Mary, who sat at the feet of
Jesus and listened to Him, helps us recognize first in our hearts the Jesus
that we must serve in the poor. Yes, we are urged to be both Mary and Martha,
for it is in praying like Mary and serving like Martha that our life will truly
be complete.
Today’s
Gospel also reminds us, according to John Rose, that “Substitution of our
daily duties and responsibilities with religious activities is not commendable.
A father of a family, who instead of working and earning for the family, spends
needless time in the church, is to be discouraged”. Similarly, a mother who
spends all her time in church praying to the detriment of her family should be
reprimanded. Prayer, religious and social activities are good and highly
encouraged on their own, but the family and the good of the children should not
be sacrificed on their altars. There is always time for Mary and time for
Martha. We can be both, and we should strive to be both. Prayer and work must
be combined in a healthy way to strike a balance in our lives. We must learn to
discharge our social responsibility with equanimity, and at the same time, we
must make the time to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn from him how to be meek
and gentle of heart. May Christ, the good teacher, teach us to find peace and
balance in our lives, free from anxiety, worries, and distraction. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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