By Father Paul Nord, Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a; Response: Psalm 15:2-5; Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28; Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
In Genesis 12, the Lord God calls Abram to leave his homeland. God calls him to go “to a land that I will show you.” Further God promises to make of Abram “a great nation” — although Abram was still childless. Later in Genesis 15, Abram reminds God that he remains childless. God responds by renewing his promise to Abram — saying that he will have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. In Genesis 16, Abram has a son, Ishmael, by Hagar — the maidservant of Abram’s wife, Sarah. But in Genesis 17:16, God promises Abram (now called Abraham) that his wife Sarah will bear him a son, to be called Isaac. Abraham laughs that God could give them a son in their old age.
In today’s reading, “three men” visit Abraham. He shows them great hospitality — bringing them water to bathe their feet, and preparing a meal for them with the help of Sarah and a servant. By offering such generous hospitality to apparent strangers, Abraham and Sarah show themselves to be deserving of a blessing in return. Indeed one of the strangers promises Abraham: “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.”
These “men” are later identified as “angels” in 19:1 and 19:15. Considering also that they repeat God’s previous promise to Abraham, these “three men” are often identified with God. In the following verses (18:11-15), Sarah laughs at this prophecy, similar to Abraham’s laughter in Genesis 17.
Today’s Responsorial is Psalm 15. It begins: “LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?” (15:1). The remainder of the psalm seeks to answer this opening question.
The first stanza begins “[the] One who walks blamelessly.” The following phrase is synonymous parallelism: “[the One who] does justice.” The next two phrases emphasize that speaking honestly with our tongue begins by thinking “the truth in [our] heart.”
The second stanza continues describing the person who “may dwell on [the Lord’s] holy mountain.” It begins: “[the One] who harms not his fellow man.” The following line makes the connection between actions and words. “Harming” another person often begins with “reproaching” them. So the righteous person neither reproaches nor harms another. The next phrase describes how a righteous person “despises” the (wicked) reprobate. By contrast, the righteous man “honors those who fear the Lord.” The third stanza completes this description of the righteous actions of those who “may dwell on [the Lord’s] holy mountain.” He does not practice usury, nor accepts bribes.
Next is St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians. These first two verses describe well Paul’s understanding of “how to live Christ’s Gospel.” Paul says “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.” Paul rejoices because he knows that his sufferings unite him to Christ who suffered for us. Paul’s sufferings conform him to Christ’s image, and thus lead to salvation. Christ accomplished our salvation with his death and resurrection. But Christ also tells us: “take up your cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24). Paul says: “in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” That is, by our sufferings Christ allows us to participate in our own salvation. Paul continues: “I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me.” For this reason, Paul’s sufferings help “bring to completion” the proclamation of “the word of God” to Christians who form Christ’s “body, which is the church.”
In Colossians 1:26, Paul speaks of “the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.” This “mystery” is the Gospel of Jesus Christ — his Incarnation, Death and Resurrection. This mystery has now been made known “among the Gentiles.” Paul grew up with the Jewish expectation that God’s salvation was only for the Jewish people, chosen by God. But Christ’s Gospel is for all the peoples of the earth — Jew and Gentile alike. This is an unexpected “revealed mystery” that surprised Paul — but which he now enthusiastically proclaims. The final verse literally means: “that we may present every man perfect in Christ.” Here
“every man” emphasizes again that Christ’s salvation is for the whole human race.
Today’s Gospel passage about Martha and Mary only appears in Luke’s Gospel. It begins with Jesus entering a village — likely Bethany, identified in John 11:1 as the village where Martha and Mary live. Luke 10:38 notes that “Martha welcomed him” into her home. Martha shows Jesus hospitality through concrete action. But her sister Mary “sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.” Many people identify readily with Martha’s complaint to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”
But consider Jesus’ reply: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.” Martha is described as “burdened with much serving” — the literal sense is “distracted with many tasks.” Martha is distracted, but Mary is focused on Jesus. Martha is anxious about “many things.” But Jesus says “There is need of only one thing” — and Mary is focused on this.
We live today in a world of anxiety and distraction. Jesus lovingly warns Martha to avoid this state of mind. Instead, Jesus calls Martha — and us — to imitate Mary’s singular focus on listening to Jesus. We can empathize with Martha’s complaint, as does Jesus. But this Gospel has a powerful image for us to ponder: Mary “sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.” Pondering this image, we can begin to imitate Mary in her devotion and focus on Jesus and his words. To do this, we must first let go of the distractions and anxieties that often fill our minds — as Martha experiences. Jesus says: “Mary has chosen the better part.” We can make this choice also. Jesus challenges Martha — and us — to do this. Listening attentively and responding to Jesus’ words is the only thing that truly matters to us as disciples of Christ.
Benedictine Father Paul Nord is a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey, and teaches at St. Meinrad Seminary. His Sunday Scripture columns are © Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.