Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is-16-il Ħadd matul is-Sena
Messalin C pp 343
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as
he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing
nearby. When he saw them, he ran from
the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: “Sir,
if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe
your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your
servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your
way.” The men replied, “Very well, do as
you have said.” Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three
measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” He ran to the herd, picked out a tender,
choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well
as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he
waited on them under the tree while they ate. They asked Abraham, “Where is your
wife Sarah?” He replied, “There in the tent.” One of them said, “I will surely return to you
about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.”
L-Ewwel Lezzjoni - Qari
mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 18, 1-10a
F'dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej
deher lil Abraham ħdejn il-ballut ta' Mamri;
u hu kien fil-bieb tal-għarix fl-aqwa tas-sħana tal-jum. U rafa'
għajnejh u ħares, u ra tlitt irġiel weqfin quddiemu; u malli rahom mar jiġri
jilqagħhom mill-bieb tal-għrix u nxteħet wiċċu
fl-art quddiemhom. U qal:
"Sidi, jekk jien sibt ħniena f'għajnejk, tibqax għaddej minn
Responsorial Psalm - PSALM 15:2-3,
3-4, 5
R. (1a) He who does justice will live in
the presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue. R/
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue. R/
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD. R/
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD. R/
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed. R/
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed. R/
Salm Responsorjali - Salm 14 (15)
R/ Mulej, min jgħammar fid-dar tiegħek?
Min jgħix bla ħtija u jagħmel
it-tajjeb,
min jgħid is-sewwa f'qalbu;
min ma jqassasx bi lsienu. R/
Min ma jagħmilx deni lil
ġaru,
u ma jgħajjarx lil għajru;
min ma jistmax lill-bniedem
ħażin,
imma jweġġaħ lil dawk li
jibżgħu mill-Mulej. R /
Min jislef u ma jitlobx
imgħax,
u ma jixxaħħamx kontra min hu
bla ħtija.
Min
jagħmel dan qatt ma jitħarrek. R/
Reading 2 - Colossians 1:24-28
Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for
your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions
of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in
accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you
the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But
now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in
you, the hope for glory. It is he whom
we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
It-Tieni Qari - mill-Ittra ta' S Pawl
lill-Kolossin 1, 24-29
Ħuti, jien issa nifraħ
bit-tbatijiet tiegħi minħabba fikom,
għaliex bihom jien ntemm f'ġismi dak li
jonqos mit-tbatijiet ta' Kristu għall-ġisem tiegħu li hu l-Knisja. Tagħha jien
sirt ministru, skont ma tani nagħmel Alla għalikom, jiġifieri li nxandar b'mod
sħiħ il-Kelma ta' Alla, il-ministru li
kien moħbi sa miż-żminijiet u
l-ġenerazzjonijiet kollha, u li issa hu
mgħarraf lill-qaddisin tiegħu. Lil dawn Alla ried jgħarrafhom kemm huwa kbir l-għana tal-glorja ta' dan il-misteru
fost il-pagani: Kristu hu fikom, it-tama
tal-glorja tagħkom. Lilu aħwa nħabbru
lill-bnedmin kollha, u nwissu u ngħallmu
lil kulħadd bl-għerf kollu biex inwasslu lil kull bniedem għall-perfezzjoni fi
Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
Gospel - Luke 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was
Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his
feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him
and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the
serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha,
Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will
not be taken from her.”
L-Evanġelju
- skont San Luqa 10, 38-42
F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' daħal
f'raħal, u laqgħetu għandha waħda mara jisimha Marta. Din kellha oħtha, jisimha Marija, li niżlet
bilqiegħda f'riġlejn il-Mulej tisimgħu
x'kien qiegħed jgħid. Iżda Marta kienet moħħha fuq il-ħafna xogħol tad-dar.
Imbagħad resqet u qaltlu: "Mulej,
m'intix tara kif oħti ħalliet ix-xogħol kollu fuq biss? Mela għidilha taqbad tagħmel xi ħaġa miegħi." Qabeż il-Mulej u qalilha: "Marta, Marta! Inti taħseb wisq u tinkwieta fuq il-ħafna ħwejjeġ, imma waħda hi meħtieġa. U
Marija għażlet l-aħjar sehem, li
ma jittiehdilhiex." Il-Kelma
tal-Mulej
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Commentary by Fr Thomas Rosica
The art
of Biblical Hospitality
What
does it mean to be hospitable? Biblical stories extol hospitality as both
a duty and a work of mercy. The desert ‘Bedouin’ hospitality is a
necessity for survival; and since this necessity falls upon all alike, any
guest is entitled to hospitality from any host. The guest, once accepted
by the host, is sacred, and must be protected from any danger even at the cost
of the life of members of the family.
The
good host makes a feast for his guest as is never prepared for his own
family. The duty of the host to protect the guest is illustrated by the
stories of Lot at Sodom
Hospitality
in the New Testament
The
Greek word for hospitality is ‘philanthropia’
meaning love of human beings, kindness. The virtue of hospitality is
praised in the New Testament and it is enumerated among the works of charity by
which we will be judged [Mt. 25:35ff]. Jesus depends on it [Mk. 1:29ff.;
2:15ff., etc.] He regards it as important in the parables [Lk. 10:34-35;
11:5ff, etc.]. God’s hospitality is an essential part of his message [cf.
the divine generosity in Lk. 14:16ff; 12:37; 13:29, etc.]. Jesus had no
home and was frequently a guest [Lk. 7:36ff; 9:51ff; 10:389ff; 14:1ff;].
It
was the practice of Paul on his journeys first to visit the Jews and to stay
with them, and to stay with the Gentiles only if the Jews refused him [Acts
14:28; 15:33; 16:15, 34; 17:1ff; 18:3, 27; 21:16]. With the rapid growth
and expansion of the church, organization was needed, and we are told that
fourth century Antioch
Hospitality,
Bethany
In
Sunday’s Gospel story of Martha and her sister Mary in Bethany
Martha
is so caught up in the many demands put upon her by society’s and culture’s
rules for serving guests. But really, there is little that is needed– or
only one thing. Much of Martha’s anxiety and concern in serving has more
to do with conforming to society’s demands or with the desire of the host or
hostess to shine as a model of accomplished and generous hospitality.
Activity,
passivity or receptivity?
Mary
of Bethany, disciple of the Lord, has chosen the most important thing required
in welcoming others– her presence and full attention, so that it is her guest
who shines. Martha and Mary stand forever as symbols of the two modes of
life between which we continually oscillate. Activity can become a shield
against facing issues and questions and truths which must be allowed to surface
if we are to survive. There are times when we simply must contemplate,
must step back, must think, if we are to be capable of returning to meaningful
activity.
The
key of the Gospel story is not found in the tension of activity versus
passivity, but in receptivity. The one necessity in welcoming others into
one’s home or community is being present to them– listening to what they have
to say, as Mary does in today’s Gospel.
Hospitality’s
enemy
Thus
far we have considered the positive aspects, elements and manifestations of
hospitality. But hospitality has an enemy: selfishness and
pride. When we are so wrapped up with ourselves, our own problems and
difficulties, or we wish to jealously preserve what we have and exclude
foreigners and strangers from our lives and riches, we are inhospitable.
Too much introspection and inwardness will prevent us from truly being present
to others. Or perhaps we are so concerned with external appearances, and
so caught up with the details and activity, that we have no time for listening
and welcoming.
At
the dinner party in Bethany
Questions
for Reflection
Here
are some questions to reflect upon this week, as individuals and as parish
communities.
§
How do I (we) practice
hospitality?
§
What are the signs of a
hospitable community?
§
What are the enemies of
our hospitality?
§
How can we become more
hospitable?
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