21 July 2019 - entertaining angels

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (see Hebrews 13:2).

Abraham didn't let the heat of the day stop him from showing hospitality. He entertained three strangers with no expectation of receiving anything in return. Yet these strangers were more than meets the eye. They were actually angels manifesting the very presence of God.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? 

Martha wanted to be hospitable as well. More than Abraham she knew her guest deserved the best she could offer. Yet hospitality is always work. The serving pulled Martha in many different directions at once. Unlike Abraham who had a laser-like focus on his guests Martha become more focused on the serving than the one served. It was only natural for her to be upset with Mary who was simply sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.

But perhaps the problem was not that Martha was serving and Mary was not. Perhaps Martha might have been able to serve Jesus with a focus more like Abraham. Maybe she could have remained in his presence even amidst the efforts of the active life.  

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his body, which is the church,

Perhaps even the difficult parts of service and of life need not become distractions for us. We all do need to spend time at the feet of Jesus. This is, in the end, the main thing which can set all the other aspects of life in right order. But we are all also called to serve and be hospitable. And when we do we are called to focus on the God whom we serve in others, even if they are three strangers in the heat of the day. We know that the imagine of Jesus, who is the one thing necessary, is to be found in all his creatures.

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.