The Divine Visitor

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, C                                                                      July 21, 2019
Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette

Here we see God visiting Abraham and being fed by him and his servants. Then there is Jesus entering into Martha’s home and eating at her table. And how many times do we see him eating at other people’s houses too; friends, tax collectors, and other sinners? Yet, almost in contrast to what we see, we are in God’s house about to eat from his table fed by his servants.

Don’t get me wrong, you do need to be here. The ancient Jews had to go to the temple too. For us the Mass is the source and summit of our faith. But, it is not everything. As he has done with his people throughout history, God seeks to be welcomed into your home, to enjoy your hospitality.

In the ancient Jewish world, hospitality was a crucial part of the culture. To fail to welcome and care for a guest was seen as a grave offense against God and society. To do it well was seen as a mark of great honor. That’s why Abraham literally ran out of his tent to show hospitality to the three strangers. He is rewarded for this; His guest is God and this becomes the moment He fulfills his promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son.

So, when Martha is running about getting the house ready for Jesus, she isn’t exactly wrong. It truly is important to be hospitable. Her problem is that she is anxious and distracted while doing it. Jesus rebukes her for that, not for the work itself. She allows the act of serving Jesus to distract her from the whole point of having Jesus over in the first place. This is an opportunity not just to learn from him, but to enjoy his friendship and company and to deepen her connection to God.

This makes the challenge to us two-fold. First, do we show hospitality to God and his servants? Second, do we lose sight of what matters most when we do? Just to be clear, the point of this homily is not that I want you to have me over for dinner. I do encourage that, but this is about your relationship with God, not just your pastor.

So, how can you show hospitality to God? Obviously, by praying in your home. Memorized prayers are great, but it’s crucial that you also listen to God, lest you make the same mistake as Martha. Speak freely to God, but then sit in the silence to give him a chance to speak. He probably won’t use an audible voice, but he’ll speak in subtle ways to your heart and mind. Remember also that Jesus Christ is the Word of God, he speaks to us when we prayerfully read scripture. How often do you read the bible in your home?

Hospitality to God also extends to his servants. By welcoming Christians and by welcoming the poor into our homes, we welcome God. It starts with family. Do you pray together as a family? Not just a quick blessing before meals, but real time spent with scripture or the rosary? Does it extend to your spiritual family? I don’t know how to stress this enough, but if you never pray with other Christians, you are probably in serious spiritual danger. Every Catholic, every family should get together with other Catholics at least sometimes to pray together.

Just consider how much effort we as a culture put into making sure kids and parents can be together at sports and school events. Well, how much effort do we put into making sure kids and parents actually have Jesus in their lives more than one hour a week? If you and your children don’t know how to welcome God into your homes, coming to Mass won’t matter a whole lot.

I highly, highly, highly recommend you find a few others and make it a regular thing. Once a week in someone’s home for a rosary or a bible study. No priest required, just friends and prayer. Luke, the seminarian with us, has led a Come Lord Jesus bible study all summer. When he leaves, the program will continue, but it will then be multiple groups leading bible studies at different times. The program is great because anyone can lead the bible study – you just follow the method and use the materials. We’ll provide the materials!

What we need as a parish, besides Mass, is to have several different small groups doing their own thing. Rosary and prayer groups of all kinds, bible study with dads, bible study with moms, bible study with retired people… with working people. If you don’t already have some way to welcome God and his servants into your home, then start a bible study or prayer group on your schedule in your home or call us to reserve a time and space in the parish hall for your group to meet. Parents of little kids can trade off – dads one night, moms another.

Now maybe that challenge stresses you out. “My house is a mess, I’m not a very good cook, I’m not organized enough, I don’t know anything about the bible.” That is all useless anxiety and distraction. That was Martha’s problem. She was too focused on the superficial quality of her hospitality that it distracted her from the real point – being together. A group of poorly organized Catholics praying together in a messy home with a mediocre meal is infinitely better than a group of efficient, organized people having a good meal in a clean home while never actually paying attention to each other or to God.

I know of a group of married couples that had to make a rule: no cleaning, no changing the menu. When it was time for a get-together, the hosts just increased the portions – no wasted time cleaning, no need to be gourmet. They all had kids, they were all used to their own messy home and quick-fix meals, so why bother pretending? And it worked. They went from getting together once every 3 or 4 months to at least once a month. I have married and single friends from college who have a weekly rosary group and it is so chaotic. Kids, toys, laundry, and simple meals like potato soup or spaghetti. But you know what? They love it and I have seen them grow in their faith.

So, yes, do your best to offer hospitality to friends, family, priests, and fellow parishioners, but do not be anxious. Do not be distracted with superficial standards. Whether you’re the guest or the host, remember that “there is need of only one thing.” That thing is love – love of God and neighbor – if you choose that, you will have “chosen the better part and it will not be taken from” you.