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Two stories about hospitality this week. Hospitality to
God.
Abraham was sitting outside on a hot day, the
First Reading
says. 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 are told that they were God
appearing to Abraham in human form.
How does Abraham react to God’s presence?
He flies into action. He bows deeply. He begs them 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 and at long last, sets the whole meal
before the men.
Quite a scene. Quite a welcome.
As the dinner progressed, Sarah stood behind the tent flap
listening. All at once the men made a sudden, astonishing
statement. Next year Sarah will bear a son by Abraham.
Sarah actually laughs out loud as she hears this absurdity
about her dried-up body, nearly 89 years old, issuing
forth a tender baby. (Our scripture selection for Sunday
leaves out the laughing part. If you want to read it,
press
here).
Even so, as you may know, after a time this amazing thing
will indeed take place, and thank God that Abraham had
listened to the men, who were the presence of God.
Second story. In the
Gospel, Jesus enters the house of his friends Mary and Martha,
and he too is warmly welcomed. As he sits down, Mary
arranges herself at his feet and focuses her clear wide
eyes upon him. 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 should 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 on 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, and no matter how busy we might be, to relate to
them because God is within them, deep in their souls.
Touch them. Hear them. Prepare meals for them without
forgetting them. We 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.
John Foley S. J.
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