On Loving God
Genesis 18:1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42
In today’s liturgy of the Word, God visits Abraham and the home of Martha and Mary. Since no one can see God and live (Ex 33:20), He adapts Himself to our cognitive abilities. Abraham sees three men and the sisters host in their home the incarnate Word of God. They belong to those people who do justice and live in the presence of the Lord (Ps 15:1).
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13: 2). One of the most beautiful stories about angels visiting people is the book of Tobit. There, the archangel Raphael frees beautiful Sarah from an evil spirit, arranges a marriage between young Tobit and Sarah, finds a medicine to cure the blindness of the old Tobit, and settles financial matters of the entire Tobit family. The men who visited Abraham brought an incredible news from God: in a year, Sarah who “was past the age of childbearing” would give birth to Isaac (Gen 18:10-11).
Abraham’s hospitality is often compared to that of Lot. Abraham mentions “a morsel of bread” (Gen 18: 5) but prepares a great feast (Gen 18: 5-6). On the other hand, “a feast” that Lot prepared consisted of “unleavened bread” (Gen 19:3). Abraham’s hospitality can also be compared with its lack of that unknown Pharisee from the gospel of Luke. Abraham offered water for bathing feet (Genesis 18: 4), but the Pharisee did not show such kindness to Jesus (Luke 7:44).
According to John, Martha and Mary live in Bethany near Jerusalem and had a brother, Lazarus (John 11:1); Jesus loved all of them (John 11:5). When Jesus visited them on that day Mary sat His feet listening to his words. “But Martha was distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40). We also hear about ‘service’ in the second reading (Col 1: 24-28). Saint Paul is the servant of the Church – the Body of Christ. His task is to reveal the mystery which is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). However, there is a difference between the two. Martha is distracted because of her many ministries, while the apostle is focused on one ministry – proclaiming the Gospel.
Martha’s complaint is an outcome of her distraction. She orders Jesus around and expects Him to agree with her. Jesus, however, defends Mary who in the entire story does not say a word. Some see here conflict between action and contemplation, others a dilemma between running a food program or teaching the word of God (Acts 6: 2). But, the story aims to illustrate the meaning of the first commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27).
“Martha, Martha, you care and trouble about many things” (Luke 10:41). Martha symbolises all those who work for Christ but do not find time to commune with Him. Moreover, in her service Martha, like some Christians today, is rather bossy. “If serving Christ makes us difficult to live with, then something is terribly wrong with our service” (Warren Wiersbe). However, our silent Mary and outspoken Paul as well found it unacceptable to exchange the word of God for something else. ”It is not acceptable for us to forsake the word of God and to serve tables” (Acts 6:2).
The commandment of love begins with “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deut 6:4). Mary did exactly that. She sat at the feet of the Lord and “heard His word” (Luke 10:39). Thus, she becomes a model for all of us who want to love God with our whole being.
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
Genesis 18:1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42
In today’s liturgy of the Word, God visits Abraham and the home of Martha and Mary. Since no one can see God and live (Ex 33:20), He adapts Himself to our cognitive abilities. Abraham sees three men and the sisters host in their home the incarnate Word of God. They belong to those people who do justice and live in the presence of the Lord (Ps 15:1).
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13: 2). One of the most beautiful stories about angels visiting people is the book of Tobit. There, the archangel Raphael frees beautiful Sarah from an evil spirit, arranges a marriage between young Tobit and Sarah, finds a medicine to cure the blindness of the old Tobit, and settles financial matters of the entire Tobit family. The men who visited Abraham brought an incredible news from God: in a year, Sarah who “was past the age of childbearing” would give birth to Isaac (Gen 18:10-11).
Abraham’s hospitality is often compared to that of Lot. Abraham mentions “a morsel of bread” (Gen 18: 5) but prepares a great feast (Gen 18: 5-6). On the other hand, “a feast” that Lot prepared consisted of “unleavened bread” (Gen 19:3). Abraham’s hospitality can also be compared with its lack of that unknown Pharisee from the gospel of Luke. Abraham offered water for bathing feet (Genesis 18: 4), but the Pharisee did not show such kindness to Jesus (Luke 7:44).
According to John, Martha and Mary live in Bethany near Jerusalem and had a brother, Lazarus (John 11:1); Jesus loved all of them (John 11:5). When Jesus visited them on that day Mary sat His feet listening to his words. “But Martha was distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40). We also hear about ‘service’ in the second reading (Col 1: 24-28). Saint Paul is the servant of the Church – the Body of Christ. His task is to reveal the mystery which is Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). However, there is a difference between the two. Martha is distracted because of her many ministries, while the apostle is focused on one ministry – proclaiming the Gospel.
Martha’s complaint is an outcome of her distraction. She orders Jesus around and expects Him to agree with her. Jesus, however, defends Mary who in the entire story does not say a word. Some see here conflict between action and contemplation, others a dilemma between running a food program or teaching the word of God (Acts 6: 2). But, the story aims to illustrate the meaning of the first commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27).
“Martha, Martha, you care and trouble about many things” (Luke 10:41). Martha symbolises all those who work for Christ but do not find time to commune with Him. Moreover, in her service Martha, like some Christians today, is rather bossy. “If serving Christ makes us difficult to live with, then something is terribly wrong with our service” (Warren Wiersbe). However, our silent Mary and outspoken Paul as well found it unacceptable to exchange the word of God for something else. ”It is not acceptable for us to forsake the word of God and to serve tables” (Acts 6:2).
The commandment of love begins with “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deut 6:4). Mary did exactly that. She sat at the feet of the Lord and “heard His word” (Luke 10:39). Thus, she becomes a model for all of us who want to love God with our whole being.
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
