Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

The First Reading and the Gospel are hospitality stories. Hospityality was a very essential part of life in the ancient world. It is still a highly regrdd and a very necessary virtue.

We never know when God might surprise us and pay us a visit. Sometimes God's visits come with good ideas or with a strong awareness that we are not alone. Sometimes they come with a deep sense of peace or with a twinge of conscience. Sometimes they come when we meet a holy person who is in desperate need of our help. Of course, God comes to visit us as our life in this world reaches its end.

In the First Reading we see how, when three strangers suddenly appeared to Abraham. Abraham reacted with instinctive hospitality and how God rewarded his hospitality.

This sets the scene for Martha and Mary who welcome Jesus to their home. Martha got completely carried away by the details of hospitality, but Mary sat at his feet and listened to him. In today's Gospel Jesus came to the house of Martha and Mary we see the contrast between Martha's activity and Mary'squiet devotion to the Lord. It is not that whet Martha does is unimportant. It is just that Mary has chosen someting even more important. Her priority is to listen to the word of Jesus.

The story of Martha and Mary can be seen as a parable in action. While the parable of the Good Samaritan stresed the importance of action, or practical love, in the life of a disciple, this story stresses the importance of contemplation. Both are necessary, and have to be integrated into the life of a Christian. Martha is the patron saint of waiters and waitresses.

After hearing a complaint from Martha, Jesus said that "There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her." Intentionally or unintentionally, Mary chose the better part to listen to the Word of the Lord that enriches the sould.

In the Transfiguration event a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him."

According to St. Paul, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ. According to John by hearing the Word of God, we are sanctified in the truth.  

It sure appears as if Martha was hurt because she was left to do all the work by herself. But, according to the Words of Jesus, Martha was being distractd by many things. The work that Martha was doing was not necesary. Martha created he own work. It was not demanded of her. She could have sat alongside Mary in order to be enriched by the spiritual foods that Jesus was feeding to Mary. But, Martha chose to be a people pleaser. She was probably running right and left to prepare worldly food for Jesus as the Guest in the house. But Jesus was telling Martha that the Heavenly food is grater than the worldly food.

What Mary chose was spiritually beneficial to her now and forever. I hope that we in our busy lives, will find time to listen to the word of God and reflect on it.                                                                                                                                                                                                God bless all of us.

                                                Fr. Dariusz

Is the weather looking bad and want to be notified if Mass is cancelled?

Would you like to be reminded of upcoming or changes of events?

We are now offering a group messaging opportunities call Calling Post.

To register to be connected to this notification system, text 'Angels' to 24251.

To register your child go to: https://cabriniparish.org/religious-education.