18/07/2010 - 16TH. SUNDAY IN ORDINARY SEASON - C
1Reading Gen 18,1-10 Psalm 14 2Reading Col 1,24-28 Gospel Lk 10,38-42
"As you, Father, are in me and I in you, may they also be one in us, so
that the world believes that you have sent me". Jesus continues to express
his only desire to the Father for his disciples both present and future. He
formulated this desire in a complete way. It's not because the Father needed
to know, he knows what the Son desires for men, but Jesus knows that it's useful
and necessary for the disciples themselves. They need to know which thoughts
and desires they need to take care off to be united with him, to be acceptable
by the Father, hence they will know how to discern the great temptations that
will come to oppress them and make them fall or even turn away to be of the
world again. The disciples need to know what is to the heart of their Lord to
be true disciples and to be united with him deep down in their hearts. Then,
they need not only wait on God to fulfill his will, but also to use all energy
and all possibilities so that this will becomes an everyday reality. That's
why he makes clear what is already said. He wants his disciples to be one, but
how? "As you, Father, are in me and I in you". This is the perfect
image to which one is to turn to, to keep present. Jesus is demanding. He is
courageous. If these words were not spoken by him, no man would have ever dreamt
to say them, but not even to think of them and to present them to God. The introductory
word, that "as" does not mean only to express a model, but also a
cause. It can also be said as "in the same way", or "from the
moment that". The Father and Jesus are one in each other, without being
confused, without loosing their own individuality and their own characteristics.
The Father who is in heaven, is in Jesus here on earth, and in him his love
for me is fulfilled: Jesus adapts himself to that love, in all, till the end,
that is, dying to self. Here on earth Jesus is in the heart of the Father, in
heaven, in the Father in whom he is pleased, because of his obedience that makes
him trust him fully, and therefore all his 'power' to love. One can say, as
if God submits himself to the Son, to whom he gives things seen and not seen,
earth and heaven, his own dwelling and his reign.
One can call this Sunday, the Sunday of hospitality. The Readings offer us beautiful
and interesting examples and points to think about regarding this theme. The
most beautiful thing is that man is able to host God! And God is so humble to
ask to be hosted by man. Abraham welcomes the pilgrims who pass near by his
tent. He warmly welcomes them with great love, with generosity, because he came
to realize that in the figure of the pilgrim, he welcomed God himself. A man
nurtured God! A man welcomed him in his own home without knowing. He treated
him like a true and great friend, and because of this he was rewarded. God answered
his prayers kept for long time and by now left behind. His wife Sarah, advanced
in age, shall have the long awaited and desired son, who seem never to come.
Hospitality is not a given gift, but a received one! This can be seen from the
text of the Gospel. Martha welcomes Jesus and serves him with attention. Jesus
is following what Martha was doing and to her way of welcoming him, and loves
her so much as to let her say what she had to say. Exactly, Jesus took the opportunity
of the question put forward to him by Martha, a question that reveals a demand
in relationship with Jesus himself, and a judgment towards her sister Mary.
Thus Jesus can help us to discern what is true hospitality. Who busy himself
with things is not attentive to the persons. Who busy himself with what to offer,
even though moved by generosity, risks to fall into sin of ambition, vane glory,
business, and therefore in judging and condemning others. Being busy with things
to do, takes over the space for the persons. The Lord felt welcomed as Lord
and Master by Mary, but not thus by Martha. Martha wanted to give him her service,
Mary welcomed the gift of the Word which he came to give. Mary was listening,
ready to obey Jesus at every move. Martha wanted Jesus to obey her and that
Mary stops listening to him. Deep down she expected to be more important than
the Lord himself!
Abraham listened to his hosts, Mary listens to Jesus. God always has a Word
for man, a Word that saves him, that gives him life, that consoles him and makes
him happy, that warns him and makes him know that he is not alone. The Word,
says st. Paul, makes known God and his mystery, that mystery that is hidden,
but is given to us to live by carrying our cross. Thus is the imagine of the
Son of God fulfilled in us, who suffered death to begin and build the Church.
The Church is the place where the mystery of the love of God is manifested,
is the place where God is welcomed here on earth. In it and by it is the proclamation
of Jesus, the Lord, who then enters the heart of the believers to make out of
them a blessing to the world. "Where two or three are gathered in my name,
there I am in the midst of them": Jesus is in his Church every day, not
only as the one who is welcomed, but also a the one who welcomes.