Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Dear Friends,
The Gospel of Luke presents to us the account of Jesus visiting Martha and Mary. Martha is frustrated because Mary sits and listens to Jesus while she, Martha, has to do all the work. We experience right away the two different kinds of host mentioned in the above examples: Martha who is doing her “role” and Mary who is caught up in the happenings—no doubt learning something new and experiencing true joy in the process. Martha even complains to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?”
Poor Martha—both literally and figuratively! She is poorer having missed out on the conversation by being caught up in the business of task, of preparation.
By rebuking Martha, Jesus is telling us that we need to pay attention to what really matters. We need to see life through the filter not of competition, success and achievement. Rather, it is the prism of God’s Love (caritas) and concern for His people which ought to be the ultimate driving force of our lives.
There are times when the essentials of hospitality and thoughtfulness are all that matter. Hospitality must reign in such a way that the stranger will know that he or she is welcome at the table. True hospitality is first of all receiving one another as God’s creation, as the presence of Jesus Christ Himself. If we recognize Christ in the “other”, all the minutiae of hospitality will take care of themselves. It is when we see another human being only as having defects and sins and brokenness that we start to treat others poorly, and worse. When we see Christ in the other, every day and at all times, we will listen and we will do the works of hospitality. God comes to us as stranger, God comes as Guest, God comes in suffering and God comes in being still and listening. That is the invitation to each of us: stop your business, be still, be attentive and listen!
God Bless,
Rev. Father Frank Kyazze
