‘CHRIST AMONG US’
Meditation
for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Gen
18:1-10; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42)
The first reading talks about Abraham’s hospitality to
three strangers. He offered them refreshment and rest. His commitment to the
comfort and satisfaction of the visitors was awesome. He hastened his wife
Sarah to make the loaves, and charged the servants to prepare a fine and tender
calf for the guests. Abraham was not counting the costs, but he was ready to
make every necessary sacrifice for their comfort. On leaving, the visitors
blessed him with the promise of a son. Abraham’s hospitality became a means
through which God blessed him and answered his prayer.
The second reading highlights the mystery of God’s
permanent presence among us. In Jesus Christ, God has visited his people (Lk 7:16);
He has taken His abode among us (Jn 14:23). He comes to us as a guest, and we are
expected to open up the doors of our hearts to welcome Him and allow Him to share
in our life (Jn 1:11-12). If we cannot make God ‘hospitable’ in the home of our
hearts, we may end up not opening the doors of our house to visitors.
Since the mystery of Christ among us is made possible
through His cross, we too shall make sacrifices like Abraham in order to
welcome Him in our midst. Thus, as St Paul says in the Second reading, we
constantly carry in our body the imprint of the cross of Christ so as to make up
all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of His body, the
Church. Inspired by the Cross of Christ, we assume the position of ‘guests’ in
order to bring comfort and peace to others, and to give glory to God.
This spirituality of hospitality shines out the more as we
meditate on the visit of Jesus to the house of Martha and Mary. We see Martha cooking and serving, and getting concerned about the comfort and satisfaction
of her guests. But at the feet of Jesus, we see her sister Mary listening to Jesus
and absorbing the wisdom from His words. Her contemplative positive immediately
reminds us of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s position at the foot of the Cross (Jn
19:25-27).
Jesus appreciated Martha’s efforts and sacrifices to make
the guests comfortable, but He exalted Mary’s position. “It is Mary who has chosen
the better part; it is not to be taken from her.” Mary’s surrender at the feet
of Jesus positions Him as the ‘Master of the house’, and makes her a ‘guest’ to
food and earthly comfort. By welcoming His words in her heart, Mary had given Jesus
the greatest hospitality. And by finding a ‘home’ in her heart, the mystery of ‘Christ
among us’ is realized in her. However, the serving and sacrifices of Martha, in
a way, aided and gave Mary the space and time that enable her to realize the
mystery of ‘Christ among us’ in within her.
This is how Martha in her hard work, creativity, sacrifices
and services train us in the virtue of hospitality and open up the opportunity
to draw closer for a deeper encounter. And Mary’s contemplative position trains
us in detachment to earthly comfort, and opens our horizon to see the real
value of things. In this way, the sacrifices of Martha draw value and vision
from the contemplation of Mary; and the contemplation of Mary bring
transformation to our lives through works of Martha. The sisters, Mary and
Martha, are the two dispositions we must have in order to live out the mystery
of ‘Christ among us’; our Master and our guest. And this is how we live a
Christ-centered life, and grow in the spirituality of hospitality. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday July 17th, 2022.
