16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

The readings today highlight the importance of hospitality. Abraham demonstrated hospitality to the three visitors, while in the desert at Mamre.   Abraham and Sarah also received the good news, the same time next year, he and Sarah will be blessed with a son.  In other words, there are blessings and rewards whenever we practice hospitality. 

Hospitality is one of the four pillars of stewardship. The other three pillars are prayer, formation and service.  We need all four pillars so that we can well rounded. We are here for the purpose of prayer, to offer Mass, to worship God, to remain connected with God, and to pray for all who are in need in our community and throughout the world.  We need continual formation of our faith. We cannot fully exhaust everything there is to know about faith, or exhaust everything there is to know about the mystery of God.  And we are called to serve in the various ministries that the Church offers.  And in service, we make present Christ who says: “I am among you as one who serves.” 

With hospitality, we strive to extend a warm, hospitable and loving welcome to all who join us in worship, prayer, study, service, and in times of need.  Hospitality is assisting our faith community to become a visible sign of Christ's loving presence in all we do here at St. John Vianney.

Martha and Mary demonstrated hospitality when Christ visited their home. Martha and Mary are the sisters of Lazarus. It's very interesting that we don't have any information about Martha and Mary's spouse, and we don't hear any words from Lazarus.  One theory is that Lazarus may have some kind of illness or deformity, and Martha and Mary made lots of sacrifices to care for their brother. 

Hospitality is an essential ingredient in building the kingdom of God. For instance, whenever we visit a store or a restaurant, the first impression is very significant.  Are the people warm and welcoming? Are the people hospitable?  It can make or break any situation.  Similarly with the Church, are we reaching out and welcoming people as they enter the holy place of worship. 

I shared this story in the past, when I was reading about the history of St. John Vianney Church.  The original vision of St. John Vianney is to be a “Light on Finn Hill for all peoples.”  Whether someone is Catholic or not, they are welcomed here in this holy place to connect with God, to pray, and to find the help that they need here in this faith community.  

For example, I remember one afternoon, I spoke with a woman who shared that she was not Catholic. But she would often come during off hours, and stand in front of the statue of Mother Mary, and just pray in front of her statue.

In the story of Martha and Mary, we hear that St. Martha began to complain that her sister was not helping her with the household duties. But Jesus responded: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. (Note here that Jesus says her name twice, and it's quite endearing). And what are you anxious about? What are you worried about?... Jesus said: “There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.” Being present with Jesus is the better part, and Mary has chosen wisely. 

But it doesn't mean that the life of service is not important. Traditionally, St. Martha represents the active life. And St. Mary represents the contemplative life. Not all of us are called to the contemplative life.  Not all of us are called to live in a religious community, where the bulk of the time is spent in prayer.  But some people are called to that kind of lifestyle.  And we are very blessed because they are praying for the rest of us. They pray the divine office, morning prayer, evening prayer, the rosary, the divine mercy chaplet, spend time reading Sacred Scriptures.  The Holy Spirit has called them to embrace that life, and we are blessed for it. But not all are called to that life. 

Many of us have an active life, to work, to serve our family, to be the breadwinner for the family. But within us, the goal is to embrace both Saints Martha and Mary, to pray and to work. It is just like the motto from St. Benedict, who one said: “Ora et Labora.” Prayer and work. 

We give thanks for those in our faith community, who are in the hospitality ministry, who welcome parishioners when they enter, who help the disabled and visitors find their seats, and receive holy communion, who direct traffic within the church, and pass out bulletins.  We also need more people to help in this area. Reward and blessings come with hospitality, and the Eucharist empowers us to be hospitable persons, and to be people prayer and service.