16th Sunday of Ordinary Times

The first reading and the Gospel are linked by the theme of hospitality. Ever ready and gratuitous hospitality is a sign of service to our neighbors. The kind generosity shown by Abraham towards his visitors is a good example. The story of Martha and Mary stresses that service, even service to Christ, cannot be separated from hearing his word. St. Paul is a model of service to his fellows. This is what we might take away from the second reading.

           When Jesus said “Mary has chosen the better part”, was he saying taking time to pray is better than feeding a hungry person? I don’t think Jesus is saying that either. We need to do both. St. Luke Gospel is telling us we need balance. We need to do good things for others, but we need to take time just to sit at our Lord’s feet and communicate with him. He wanted to feed us with a food that would last, food for eternity, with his wisdom and truth.

           Three-quarters of the youths interviewed expressed regret that they did not have more time and money to devote to a cause for helping others. One 15-year-old boy summed up the feelings of many when he gave this as his reason for helping others: “I feel I simply must-because of a little voice in me called my conscience.” St. Francis of Assisi gently rebuked his Franciscan brother who refused to give an alms to a beggar. “My dear brother, when you see a beggar; you are looking at an image of Our Lord and His poor Mother. When you see a sick person, remember the infirmities Jesus bore for us.” And St. Mother Teresa said, “IF you take Jesus at His word, the next time you see a needy person, it’s Him.” Remember, People will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.