Two stories about hospitality this week. But as it turns out, it is hospitality to God!

The First Reading says that Abraham was sitting outside his tent on a hot day. He looked up to find three men standing nearby on the path, apparently satisfying their curiosity about the tent and its occupants. It is not clear that Abraham knew who they were, but we suspect that they were God appearing to Abraham in human form!

How does Abraham react to this Godly presence?

He flies into action. He bows deeply. He begs the men to relax from their journey and receive comfort, nourishment, and rest. Beautiful hospitality from the Eastern part of the world.

He then rushes into the great tent, issuing pell-mell commands to his wife Sarah. “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” He picks the best steer and orders the servant to prepare it. He dashes outside to get curds and milk. At long last he sets the whole meal before the men. 

Quite a scene. Quite a welcome.

All at once the men make a sudden, astonishing statement. Next year Sarah will bear a son by Abraham. As the dinner had progressed, Sarah had stood behind the tent flap listening, and now she actually laughs out loud as she hears this absurdity about her dried-up body, nearly 89 years old, which is to issue forth a tender baby. (Our scripture selection for Sunday leaves out the laughing part. If you want to read it, press here).

As you may know, after a time this amazing prophecy did indeed come to be. We can thank God that Abraham listened to the men, the presence of God. 

Second story. In the Gospel, Jesus enters the house of his friends Mary and Martha. He too is warmly welcomed. As he sits, Mary arranges herself at his feet and focuses her clear wide eyes upon him, while Martha bustles about preparing dinner.

Unfair!

Martha gets tired and exasperated, and finally asks Jesus to make Mary stop lounging and help out a little. 

Surprisingly, Jesus says, no.

  “Mary has chosen the better part,” he explains.

Isn't this response unjust to Martha? After all, someone has to make the meal or there would be none. Or maybe Martha could have said, “we are not having any food tonight, we are just going to sit and stare at you.”

In truth, Martha’s trouble was not that she was scrabbling about, but that as she did so she forgot about Jesus. She was not making him welcome, she was constructing a meal. He even tells her that she was anxious and worried about many things, not the one thing necessary.

What is the one thing necessary? Relation to Christ.

Real hospitality means a two-way relationship in which host and guest open to each other, become present to one another in various ways. Hosts do work out the details of preparation, and they work hard. But they always remember the visitor while they prepare. Excellent hosts manage somehow to get everything ready but also to truly listen and converse with the one who has come.

That is how we are supposed to act every day. We are to find God in all things, in all the people we know and/or help, no matter how busy we might be. We are to relate to them because God is within them, deep in their souls. Touch them. Hear them. Prepare meals for them, without forgetting them. They will be giving hospitality to God himself.

Abraham gave it. Mary gave it. Martha forgot like you and I do, but she learned.

Let’s try to learn it too.