Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 21, 2013

Genesis 18:1-10; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42

When one travels, the experience is made pleasant when someone drops you off and greets you at the airport or train station. Knowing that a companion or loved one is there with a smile can create an enduring memory during the journey. Traveling alone has its hardships and the burdens are eased when a friend shows up to greet you and accompany you to your destination.

Abraham of Ur of the Chaldeans well understood the great virtue of hospitality. He not only runs from the entrance of the tent to greet the three mysterious travelers, but he begs them to stay to receive his hospitality. As a traveler himself, he appreciates the kind gesture, a warm welcome, and some relaxation during the journey and he actively offers it to these men. Sarah prepares a meal for them from their best flour and a fatted calf is prepared with fresh curds and milk. For his generosity, he is rewarded with the promise of progeny.

Martha of Bethany also understands the revered tradition and she does what she can to welcome Jesus with the best-cooked foods she can prepare. Mary is offending this virtue by simply sitting there with him during a time she be useful to her sister and their guest. The time will come when they both can sit with Jesus and enjoy camaraderie. (Yes, we have to honor the suggested belief that Luke inserted this passage to tell women that they are not to be too active in the ministry because it upsets the patriarchal system. It may have been an embarrassment to other cultures that women took prominent leadership roles in the early church. Luke, through his benefactors, may have been suggesting that women are to accept the customary subservient roles that the patriarchy demands.)

The details that make the biggest impressions on us with hospitality are the small ones. Martha and Abraham show us that hospitality takes a great deal of effort and time, and the personal touches are the ones that make a stranger feel like a neighbor. Though it takes time, hanging a festive welcome sign, baking one’s favorite cake, or receiving a personal note in one’s room makes a traveler feel very welcome. These min-acts of hospitality convey something more about you than you may realize. This is what happened with the guests of Abraham.

It is good for us to realize that we do not always know the expectations and roles others project upon us.  We may represent something larger to another person than we are able see in ourselves. It is natural to reject those projections, but we might want to be cautious in doing so. The power we unknowingly hold over another person is delicate and we might be best not tampering with it. Especially, if we are undertaking a religious event or have a role of authority within a religious organization, we might find ourselves as being the person who represents God to another person. Our words, gestures, and actions may be interpreted as God’s attitude towards them. Let’s be delicate, warm, and encouraging.

At the end of retreats or after long journeys, I have invited people to say something to people that might not be true in all cases, but is nonetheless important for one to hear. Always tell a person that you missed them. You might feel uncomfortable saying it at first, but you will realize it is true. For someone who is away for an extended period, people want to know if you have changed and whether they still matter to you. We always want to assure them that they have a honored place with us. We should not skimp on encouragement and hospitality.

Extending mini-mercies and mini-hospitalities will change around your basic worldview. If you can welcome another car into your driving lane, even if they are bullying their way in, will make you feel good about your actions. The other person might realize there isn’t a fight coming and might think twice in the future about taking such a forceful action. We will know we are taking the right action regardless of another person’s response because we can be good and ethical Christian drivers. We only have to be concerned that our actions represent Christ.

Developing the habit of doing kind things can only reflect positively on you and will make you happy because you are a person who chooses integrity. Saying a positive word will most often diffuse a tense situation and can give hope to someone who needs consolation. We always have to remember, whatever our situation in life, that we reflect Christ and his attitudes and we are all pilgrims who need a smile once in a while. Let’s try to be like Abraham, Martha, and Mary, who in their various approaches, welcomed the divine into their life – and gave life to both the weary and the divine.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: When Pharaoh learned that the Hebrews fled, he changed his mind and sent his charioteers to round them up and bring them back. When the fleeing Hebrews were boxed in, Moses stretched out his hands to part the Red Sea for safe passage to the Sinai. The children of Israel marched forward on dry land while the water that rushed back into the lowlands covered the encroaching Egyptians. They set out for the desert of Sin, and after only a few days the people began to grumble against Moses and Aaron because they had a better life as slaves in Egypt. The Lord responded to the hungry people by giving them manna each day and flocks of quail for food. ~ On Thursday, the church celebrates the feast of St. James, the pilgrim, who traveled to Compostela, Spain. He is known as one of the sons of Zebedee, who were particularly close to Jesus of Nazareth. On Friday, the parents of Mary, Joachim and Anne are revered for their righteous upbringing of Mary in the Jewish faith. ~ Moses descended from the mountain and told the people everything about his encounter with God. He erected an altar and twelve pillars for each tribe of Israel where he made an offering to the Lord who blessed it with a covenant.

Gospel: Monday is the Feast of Mary Magdalene and John’s Gospel depicts her as a faithful disciple who arrived at the tomb of Jesus in early dawn to anoint the body of Jesus. When she discovers his body is missing, she asks the gardener if she knows where they have taken his body. At this, Jesus assures her that he is alive. Jesus is addressing the crowd when he is interrupted by someone who tells them that his mother and brother are standing outside wishing to speak to him. Jesus gets into a boat to teach them the Parable of the sower and the seeds. Those seeds that fell on fertile ground formed a great foundation for a prospering life. Thursday is the Feast of James, the Greater, the Apostle, one of the Sons of Zebedee. Scripture recounts how his mother asks Jesus to give James and John a seat of power in the kingdom of heaven. On the Feast of the Grandparents of Jesus, Jesus explains to his disciples the intricacies of the Parable of the Sower. He likens it to the Kingdom of Heaven whose good seeds will be sown and the weeds will be collected, tied into bundles, and burned.

Saints of the Week

July 21: Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor (1559-1619) was a Capuchin Franciscan who was proficient in many languages and well-versed in the Bible. He was selected by the pope to work for the conversion of the Jews and to fight the spread of Protestantism. He held many positions in the top administration of the Franciscans.

July 22: Mary Magdalene, apostle (1st century), became the "apostle to the apostles" as the first witness of the resurrection. Scriptures point to her great love of Jesus and she stood by him at the cross and brought spices to anoint his body after death. We know little about Mary though tradition conflates her with other biblical woman. Luke portrays her as a woman exorcised of seven demons.

July 23: Bridget of Sweden, religious (1303-1373), founded the Bridgettine Order for men and women in 1370, though today only the women’s portion has survived. She desired to live in a lifestyle defined by prayer and penance. Her husband of 28 years died after producing eight children with Bridget. She then moved to Rome to begin the new order.

July 24: Sharbel Makhuf, priest (1828-1898), joined a monastery in the Maronite tradition and lived as a hermit for 23 years after living fifteen years in the community. He became known for his wisdom and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

July 25: James, Apostle (1st century), is the son of Zebedee and the brother of John. As fishermen, they left their trade to follow Jesus. They occupied the inner circle as friends of Jesus. James is the patron of Spain as a shrine is dedicated to him at Santiago de Compostela. He is the patron of pilgrims as many walk the Camino en route to this popular pilgrim site.

July 26: Joachim and Anne, Mary's parents (1st century) are names attributed to the grandparents of Jesus through the Proto-Gospel of James. These names appeared in the Christian tradition though we don't know anything with certitude about their lives. Devotion of Anne began in Constantinople in the 6th century while Joachim gained acclaim in the West in the 16th century. He was revered in the Eastern churches since the earliest times.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      Jul 21, 1773. In the Quirinal Palace, Rome, the Brief for the suppression of the Society was signed by Clement XIV.

·      Jul 22, 1679. The martyrdom at Cardiff, Wales, of St Phillip Evans.

·      Jul 23, 1553. At Palermo, the parish priests expressed to Fr. Paul Achilles, rector of the college, indignation that more than 400 persons had received Holy Communion in the Society's church, rather than in their parish churches.

·      Jul 24, 1805. In Maryland, Fr. Robert Molyneux was appointed the first superior by Father General Gruber.

·      Jul 25, 1581. In the house of the Earl of Leicester in London, an interview occurred between Queen Elizabeth and Edmund Campion. The Queen could scarcely have recognized the worn and broken person before her as the same brilliant scholar who had addressed here at Oxford 15 years before.

·      Jul 26, 1872. At Rome, the greater part of the Professed House of the Gesu was seized and appropriated by the Piedmontese government.

·      Jul 27, 1609. Pope Paul V beatifies Ignatius.