Faith

Johannes Vermeer [Public domain]

Friday, July 19, 2019Faith

Submit a Letter to the Editor

Where Abraham is concerned only for the well-being of his guests, Martha speaks only of herself -- "Do you not care that my sister has left me by myself? . . . Tell her to help me."

Scott
Hahn

God wants to dwell with each of us personally, intimately -- as the mysterious guests once visited Abraham's tent, as Jesus once entered the home of Mary and Martha.

By his hospitality in this week's First Reading, Abraham shows us how we are to welcome the Lord into our lives. His selfless service of his divine guests (see Hebrews 13:1) stands in contrast to the portrait of Martha drawn in this week's Gospel.

Where Abraham is concerned only for the well-being of his guests, Martha speaks only of herself -- "Do you not care that my sister has left me by myself? . . . Tell her to help me." Jesus' gentle rebuke reminds us that we risk missing the divine in the mundane, that we can fall into the trap of believing that God somehow needs to be served by human hands (see Acts 17:25).

Our Lord comes to us not to be served but to serve (see Matthew 20:28). He gave His life that we might know the one thing we need, the "better part," which is life in the fellowship of God.

Jesus is the true Son promised today by Abraham's visitors (see Matthew 1:1). In Him, God has made an everlasting covenant for all time, made us blessed descendants of Abraham (see Genesis

17:19, 21; Romans 4:16--17, 19--21).

The Church now offers us this covenant, bringing to completion the word of God, the promise of His plan of salvation, what Paul calls "the mystery hidden for ages."

As once He came to Abraham, Mary, and Martha, Christ now comes to each of us in Word and Sacrament. As we sing in this week's Psalm: He will make His dwelling with those who keep His Word

and practice justice (see also John 14:23).

If we do these things, we will not be anxious or disturbed; we will not have our Lord taken from us. We will wait on the Lord, who told Abraham and tells each of us: "I will surely return to you."

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Genesis 18:1--10

Psalm 15:2--5

Colossians 1:24--28

Luke 10:38--42

- Scott Hahn is the founder and president of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He is also the bestselling author of numerous books including The Lamb's Supper, Reasons to Believe, and Rome Sweet Home (co-authored with his wife, Kimberly). Some of his newest books are The Creed, Joy to the World and Evangelizing Catholics.