Sunday 20 July 2025 –XVI Sunday in Ordinary Time – (C) -The Two Sisters of Bethany.
The Spirituality of Choosing One Thing Necessary
Mass Readings: Gen 18:1-10
Ps 15 Col
1:24-28 Lk 10:38-42
Key Verse to be Meditate: but only a few things are necessary, really only one,
for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her"
(Lk 10:42).
Dear
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us to reflect on the beautiful and
spiritually rich theme of hospitality. In the First Reading, we
witness Abraham’s generous hospitality toward three unknown visitors.
His spontaneous kindness and eagerness to serve are rewarded with a profound
blessing—the divine promise of a son to him and Sarah. Abraham’s act of
welcoming becomes a moment of encounter with God.
In the
Second Reading, from the Letter to the Colossians, St. Paul rejoices
in his sufferings, which he endures for the sake of the Church. He views
his hardships as a way of completing what is lacking in the afflictions of
Christ in his own body. Paul finds joy and meaning in his apostolic
ministry of proclaiming Christ—the “hope of glory”—especially to the
Gentiles. His mission itself becomes a form of spiritual hospitality: welcoming
others into the mystery of Christ.
The Gospel
reading, unique to St. Luke, presents the touching story of Martha and
Mary welcoming Jesus into their home. While Martha busies herself with the
tasks of service, Mary chooses to sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to His
word. In this encounter, we are reminded that true hospitality involves not
only serving Christ but also attentively receiving Him into our
hearts.
First
Reading – The Hospitality of Abraham
Today’s
Gospel is beautifully foreshadowed by the First Reading, where we see Abraham’s
exemplary act of hospitality. As three mysterious visitors approach his
tent under the blazing sun, Abraham runs to meet them, bows low, and
begs them to stay. He addresses them with reverence: “My Lord, if I have
found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant” (Gen 18:3). Abraham
did not know their full identity, but he sensed something divine in their
presence.
He
hastens to prepare a lavish meal—bread, curds, milk, and a tender
calf—mobilizing his household to serve the guests with generosity and joy. He
does not merely offer food; he offers himself in service, standing by as
they eat (Gen 18:8). His reward is not delayed. The visitors—revealing
themselves to be messengers of the Lord—proclaim the promise: “I will surely
return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son” (Gen
18:10).
Abraham’s
hospitality becomes a sacred moment—a meeting place between heaven and
earth. As the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us: “Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels
without knowing it” (Heb 13:2). Abraham's story teaches us that hospitality
can be a doorway to divine blessings.
Second
Reading – St. Paul: Suffering for the Church
In the
Second Reading, St. Paul models another dimension of spiritual hospitality—the
hospitality of the heart, where one opens oneself to suffer for the sake
of others. Paul says, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake” (Col
1:24). This joy in suffering is not masochism but mission. He is
embracing the cost of discipleship as he carries the Gospel to the Gentiles,
fulfilling his role as a steward of God’s mystery: “Christ in you, the hope
of glory” (Col 1:27).
Through
his labor and suffering, Paul is creating space for others to know Christ. He
is bearing spiritual burdens so that others may be nourished by the Word. This
too is hospitality: welcoming others into the mystery of Christ, at personal
cost.
Gospel
Reading – Martha and Mary: Welcoming Jesus
The
Gospel reading narrates the well-known episode of Martha and Mary of Bethany,
which follows immediately after the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.
If the Samaritan teaches us active love for the neighbour, Martha and
Mary teach us the balance between service and contemplation, between doing
for Jesus and being with Jesus.
To Sit
at the Lord’s Feet
Jesus
is welcomed into their home—a home He dearly loved, a place of friendship and
peace. According to John 11:1, 11:18, and 12:1, this home was in Bethany. Martha,
whose name means “lady” or “mistress,” is likely the head of the household. She is busy and anxious, preparing the
meal and serving the guest with love and diligence. Meanwhile, her sister Mary
sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words like a disciple—just as Paul
once sat at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Luke describes Mary as one
who “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching” (Lk 10:39).
This posture is not one of passivity, but of profound receptivity.
When
Martha complains, Jesus gently corrects her: “Martha, Martha, (Lk 6:46;
8:24; 13:34; 22:31) you are anxious and troubled about many things; but only
one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, which shall not be
taken away from her” (Lk 10:41–42). Jesus is not so much condemning
Martha’s activity as He is commending Mary’s choice. He is emphasizing that
Mary’s priorities were rightly ordered. The most important 'meal' here is to
sit at Jesus’ feet and feast on His teaching (cf. Deut 8:3).
This
does not mean that Martha’s service was wrong. In fact, hospitality is a sacred
virtue. But Jesus redirects Martha’s attention to what is most essential—listening
to the Word of God. True hospitality is not only about preparing meals, but
also about preparing the heart to welcome God’s presence.
One Thing
Necessary
This
scene invites us to examine our own spiritual rhythm. Are we so preoccupied
with doing things for Jesus that we forget to spend time with Him? Both Martha
and Mary loved Jesus deeply, but Mary discovered the joy of resting in the
Lord’s presence and allowing His word to shape her soul. Jesus commends the act
of listening to the Word at His feet. We, too, need to take time to relate
personally to Jesus—something essential for our spiritual life. What Mary has
chosen by sitting at Jesus’ feet will remain with her forever.
In a
world of endless activity and distractions, Jesus reminds us of the one
thing necessary—attentive listening to Him. Like Mary, we are
invited to sit at the feet of Christ in prayer, Scripture, silence, and
adoration.
The Grace of Hospitality : Hospitality in the Bible is more than kindness—it is sacred
openness to the presence of God in others.
- In the Old Testament,
hospitality often led to divine encounters: Abraham received a son, the
widow of Zarephath received a miracle (1 Kings 17), and Rahab’s sheltering
of the spies brought salvation to her household (Josh 2).
- In the New Testament,
Jesus not only received hospitality but also offered it: He broke bread
with tax collectors, sinners, and disciples alike. He identifies Himself
with the stranger: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me” (Mt
25:35).
Points
for Personal Reflection
- Am I more like Martha or
Mary in my spiritual life?
Do I balance my active service with attentive listening to God?
- How do I practice
hospitality? Do I welcome not just
guests into my home, but also Christ into my heart?
- Do I allow myself to be
interrupted by God’s presence in my daily life?
- Like Abraham, do I
serve others with joy, expecting nothing, yet trusting that God visits us
in unexpected ways?
- Like St. Paul, am
I willing to suffer or sacrifice for the growth of others in Christ?
6. Let us ask ourselves: Are we
willing to make sacrifices of love to bring others closer to Christ? Do
we offer our hearts as open homes for others to encounter God?
Conclusion
The
central message that runs through all three readings today is this: Hospitality
is not merely a social duty, but a spiritual discipline—a sacred practice
of making room for God and for others, even when it disrupts our
routines or challenges our comfort. To welcome others—especially Christ
Himself—is to open our lives to grace, transformation, and blessing.
The
Gospel reading especially invites us to reflect on the call that the Lord
extends to each of us: the call to sit at His feet and listen. This posture of
listening is the mark of a true disciple. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus clearly
defines discipleship as hearing the Word of God and putting it into practice
(cf. Lk 8:21; 11:28). Sitting at the Lord’s feet is not passive—it is an act of
spiritual attentiveness and surrender, a sign of a heart open to being formed
by the Master.
As the
philosopher Søren Kierkegaard observed, true spirituality lies in choosing ‘one
thing.’ Often, even while sitting in church, our minds may be distracted,
pulled in many directions. But the Lord gently asks: What are you anxious about in My presence? Like the boy Samuel, we are called to respond with
humble readiness: “Speak,
Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:9). May we learn to quiet our hearts, let go of distractions,
and choose the better part—listening to the voice of God who speaks to us in
love.
let us
rediscover the sacred power of hospitality—both in serving others
generously and in listening to God deeply. May we find joy in
welcoming Christ, not only into our homes but into the very center of our
lives. And may we, like Mary, always choose the “better part”—the one thing
necessary, which will never be taken from us.
Let us
pray for the grace to be both generous like Abraham, faithful like
Paul, diligent like Martha, and attentive like Mary—so that
Christ may truly dwell among us - Amen.
