Today we witness what we call “divine hospitality,” exemplified by Abraham’s welcoming of strangers and Jesus’s visit to Martha and Mary. These two events teach us how we can be like Abraham by extending our hospitality and recognizing God’s presence in those we encounter. We can also reflect on the balance between service and contemplation, as seen by the example of Martha and Mary, and how both are essential aspects of a Christian life.
The readings from Genesis and Luke highlight the importance of welcoming others, recognizing that this act of hospitality can be a form of encountering God.
The Gospel prompts reflection on the balance between action and contemplation in our spiritual lives. While Martha prioritized serving, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’s feet, and Jesus affirmed her choice, suggesting that both are important aspects of faith.
The letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians speaks of rejoicing in suffering for the sake of the faith. It can be a reminder for us that even in difficult times, there is a deeper joy to be found in serving Christ and his Church.
The readings can be a personal invitation to reflect on our own lives and how we are responding to God’s call. What is Jesus asking of us in our current circumstances? What kind of response do we want to offer?
The story of the Good Samaritan (which often precedes the Gospel reading of Martha and Mary) and the readings today emphasize the importance of mercy, compassion, and recognizing the needs of others.
In our lives, we encounter people. We are taught to be welcoming of strangers, recognizing that we might be entertaining angels (or even God) without realizing it.
The story of Martha and Mary, highlighting the importance of both service and contemplation, emphasizes that Jesus affirmed Mary’s choice to listen to him, showing that both service and contemplation are essential aspects of a Christian life.
Saint Paul teaches us that suffering for the faith will lead us to a deeper understanding of God’s love.
The question is how do we extend hospitality? How do we balance service and prayer? And how do we respond to God’s call in our lives?
I ask you now, my brothers and sisters in faith, to embrace divine hospitality, to seek God’s presence in our lives, and to find joy in serving others regardless of religious affiliation, beliefs and political motivation.
Meanwhile, the debate in the Roman Church over the celebration of the old Latin Mass is heating up just as Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate is getting under way, with the apparent leak of Vatican documents that undermine the stated reason of his predecessor, Pope Francis, for restricting access to the ancient liturgy.The documents suggest that the majority of Roman Catholic bishops who responded to a 2020 Vatican survey on the Latin Mass had expressed general satisfaction with it, and warned that restricting it would “do more harm than good.”