Receive Jesus into your home

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Consideration for XVI Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C2

The Liturgy of the Word shows us two images of welcoming God and His love. He shows us how we welcome God. Do we wait for Him, do we miss the meeting? Do we prepare for the visit and devote our time to Him? Or is God visiting us by accident, unannounced? We know that he can visit us, indeed, we even miss his visit, but when he comes, we feel surprised – that it’s already? that now? We still have something to do, because it is not yet what we would like it to be. We even place others according to how we perceive this visit. Do we remember that God visits us in every person who knocks on our door?

Abraham is the protagonist of the first picture. He is sitting and probably resting at the entrance to the tent after previous work. It’s a hot day. Then God appears to him. As soon as Abraham sees Him in three human forms in front of him, he goes to meet them. He recognizes the excellent Guest, does not wait, does not delay, does not complain that it is right now, today, during the heat, and at the time when he is resting after hard work. He immediately recognizes the Lord and runs to meet Him. I feel honored to invite such an excellent guest. He bows and humbly indicates a place to rest under a tree in the cool, suggesting that guests refresh after the journey. Meanwhile, Abraham runs to his wife and asks her to prepare three flatbreads from the purest flour, and selects a plump calf so that the servant can prepare it for a feast for the Travelers. She offers her guests everything that is the best at home. He stays with them, accompanies them and even admires them. Maybe he feels a little unworthy to sit at the table with them, but he is ready to serve them with everything he has in his house. Thanks to such acceptance of God on his doorstep, Abraham receives a high reward. Well, the longed-for and long-awaited son will be born to him, which is announced by one of the people at the house of Abraham.

The protagonists of the second painting are two sisters: Maria and Marta. They too host God. Jesus goes to Jerusalem. Martha’s house is on the path of Jesus’ journey. He is not a stranger to the sisters. He is friends with their brother Lazarus, so they probably know him and like to be in his company. Jesus pays a visit to the house of Martha, who has probably heard that He was in the area. So she could expect a visit. They were probably preparing for it together with their sister.

Now that Jesus has arrived at their home, Martha, as a hostess, feels obligated to prepare as best she can. She would like to show her economy. He welcomes the guest and shows him where he can stay and rest a bit. She is probably running herself to prepare the guest room and bedding appropriately. She also prepares a meal that she believes should be enjoyed by Jesus. She would like to welcome a Friend as best as possible. He puts his whole heart into what he does. He tries to show love and care for the Guest. But she also constantly glances at her sister Maria and is dissatisfied. After all, she should also try to ensure that their guest is properly received.

Meanwhile, Mary, since Jesus entered the threshold of the house, does not leave him one step. He tries to accompany Him. He listens carefully to everything he says and what he tells. She talks with him, enjoys his presence and closeness. Maria went beyond the role of a woman in Israel. The situation of a woman in Israel was reduced to sitting in the kitchen and serving while the men ate their meals. Maria takes a different place here, a place at the Master’s feet. Only a disciple of Jesus could have acted this way. Jesus does not reject Mary, and even approves of her behavior, saying that he has chosen the best part that will not be deprived of. Mary’s heart, open to God’s love, heard the words of God’s calling. At that moment, Mary became a disciple of Christ, she was listening to her Master. Maybe he was giving her directions, maybe he was telling her how to fulfill this calling. For a moment there was only the Master and the apprentice. Each of us desires this relationship with God – to be face to face with Him.

Martha is engrossed in her work and thus far from what Jesus says and what is really important. The matters of everyday life cannot distract the disciple of Jesus from listening to His word and from seeking the kingdom of God. In Marta, anxiety arises, as well as a sense of compliance with norms, customs and duty. He sees joy, peace and the sister’s fascination with the relationship with Jesus, and he also sees that Jesus is favorable to it, because he willingly talks with Mary. Maria, on the other hand, shouldn’t be like this. Marta decides to react. Not wanting to be rude when she dismisses her sister and rebukes her for her bad behavior, she decides to ask Jesus to draw Mary’s attention and send her back to her duties.

Meanwhile, Jesus rebukes Martha. Crying twice by name expresses the cordiality and kindness on the part of Jesus, and at the same time is connected with the call to conversion. Jesus rebukes Martha not because of the work she is doing, but because she allows herself to be overwhelmed by worry and anxiety that make her stop understanding what is really important and what is secondary. The result is dissatisfaction and resentment towards yourself and everyone around you. We need every human action to result from listening to God and His will. By establishing a close relationship with Jesus, we have a chance to discover ourselves and our vocation, learn to fulfill it with love, and thus to serve our neighbor in whom God himself hides.