Genesis 18.1-10a | Colossians 1.24-28 | Luke 10.38-42

Today we begin the sixteenth week of Ordinary Time with Mother Church, growing in our knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Today, the Evangelist Luke tells us about the famous episode of the sisters Martha and Mary, who received a visit from Jesus at their home in Bethany. He loved Martha and Mary dearly, as well as their brother, Lazarus (cf. John 11:5).

The Evangelist described the sisters' different behavior during Jesus' visit: while Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to His word, Martha worried and was busy with many tasks.

When Martha asked Jesus to send her sister to help her with all the work, the Lord replied that only one thing was necessary: that Mary had chosen the better part, and that it would not be taken away from her.

Hospitality was a virtue highly valued by the Jews, who believed that angels in human form could visit them (cf. Hebrews 13:2).

Martha and Mary, each in their own way, tried to welcome Jesus, one by offering Him attention and the other by offering Him comfort. Both were important, but in Jesus' eyes, offering Him attention was the most necessary, due to the greatness of the Visitor (greater than any angel in human form).

To be successful, the Church's evangelizing work must begin with attentive listening to Jesus' word. Otherwise, the best efforts at social transformation will fail because they rely on merely human strategies.

In society, the Church, and the family, there are undoubtedly many important tasks and services to be performed, but nothing, absolutely nothing, is a valid excuse for neglecting Jesus and investing time in His company. Indeed, "there is a time for everything under heaven" (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:1). By organizing our schedule well, there will be time to listen to Jesus, like Mary, and time to serve Jesus in needy brothers and sisters, like Martha.

Today, the author of the book of Genesis tells us about the Lord's famous visit to Abraham in Mamre, through three men.

This passage clearly demonstrates the Jewish virtue of hospitality, practiced by Abraham. Prostrate on the ground, the father of faith offered these three unknowns (whom Christian biblical tradition identifies with the Holy Trinity) water to wash their feet, rest under a tree, bread to restore their strength, curds, milk, and a roasted calf.

Deep within, Abraham hoped to hear a divine word of hope, which came in the form of the promise of Sarah's pregnancy and the birth of Isaac within a year.

As Christians, let us imitate Jewish hospitality. When he became incarnate, Christ identified with every human being, particularly those most in need. By hosting a fellow pilgrim by faith, we will mysteriously and truly welcome Christ Himself, manifest in them, in the certainty that we will not lack words of blessing and divine grace. This is even more urgent in these sad times when unknowns are seen as enemies to be shunned.

Today, the Apostle Paul speaks to us in his letter to the Colossians of his service to the Church in transmitting the Word of God in its fullness.

The Apostle understood his suffering for his brothers as a complement in his own flesh to what was lacking in Christ's tribulations, in solidarity with His body, which is the Church. Yes, Christ's death on the cross was the perfect and sufficient sacrifice through which humanity's reconciliation with God took place. But, in the mystery of the Cross of Christ and Christ's union with His Church, the suffering endured by Christians was understood as a complement in the flesh to Christ's tribulations. That is, dying with Christ for the redemption of sinners, to live with Christ, as a personal sacrifice, following the example of the martyrs. 

Paul spoke of the mystery of God hidden for centuries and generations, but revealed to Christians: the presence of Christ in them, the hope of glory. The apostle affirmed that Christ is truly present in His disciples who form the Church.

Paul affirmed that it was his service to make everyone perfect in their union with Christ through proclamation, admonition, and teaching with all wisdom.

Let us learn from the apostle Paul to offer our daily sufferings as a personal sacrifice and participation in the mystery of the Cross of Christ through our membership in the Church. And let us strive to convey the Word of God to the world in its fullness, helping people become perfect in their union with Christ.