July 13, 2025 - 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
This Sunday’s readings draw us into the beautiful theme of hospitality—not just as an act of kindness, but as a sacred encounter with God. In our First Reading (Genesis 18:1–10), Abraham welcomes three mysterious visitors to his tent. Without hesitation, he offers them water to wash, rest in the shade, and a lavish meal. Though he does not fully understand who they are, Abraham’s open-hearted hospitality becomes a turning point: through these visitors, God announces the long-awaited promise—Sarah will bear a son. Abraham’s generosity opens the door to grace.
In the Gospel (Luke 10:38–42), we see another scene of hospitality in the home of Martha and Mary. Martha, like Abraham, is eager to serve—she works hard to care for Jesus. But she grows frustrated with her sister Mary, who simply sits and listens at Jesus’ feet. When Martha asks Jesus to intervene, He responds with love, not criticism: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part.” At first glance, this story may seem to criticize Martha’s service and praise Mary’s contemplation. But the deeper message isn’t about choosing one vocation over another—it’s about prioritizing presence over performance, listening over busyness, and relationship over routine. Martha’s actions are not wrong—her hospitality is generous and full of love. But her worry and distraction have pulled her away from the one thing necessary: being with Christ. Mary, on the other hand, recognizes the moment for what it is—a visit from the Lord—and gives Him her full attention.
These two stories are not in conflict; together, they give us a fuller picture of what true hospitality looks like. Abraham shows us the active dimension—serving others with generosity and openness. Mary shows us the contemplative dimension—making space in our hearts to listen and be present to the Lord. And Martha reminds us how easy it is to let our busyness cloud the very reason we serve in the first place.
In our world today, it is easy to be caught up in the “many things” that demand our time and attention. Yet both Abraham and Mary invite us to a deeper kind of welcome: not just to open our homes, but to open our hearts to God and to others. This week, may we serve like Abraham, listen like Mary, and worry less like Martha—so that we, too, may encounter the Lord in the guests, the silence, and the sacred moments of everyday life.
God bless everyone always!!!
Fr. Stan
