Welcoming God with Heart and Listening with Love

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 20, 2025

Readings: Genesis 18:1–10; Psalm 15:2–5; Colossians 1:24–28; Luke 10:38–42

What is the true rhythm of a true Christian life? It is the one that welcomes, listens, makes one feel comfortable, happy, and offers possibilities. On the 16th Sunday in Ordinary time, the Church invites us to conduct a true rhythm of a Christian life. The Word of God gives us immense possibilities to imitate those holy men and women who embraced the true vision of God. We see in Abraham the beauty of hospitality and the blessings that flow from welcoming God and others with a generous heart. In St. Paul, we are reminded that suffering, when united with Christ, becomes part of our mission to reveal His presence to the world. And in Mary, we discover the power of stillness and the importance of choosing intimacy with Jesus above all else. As we gather this Sunday in our churches let us open our hearts to receive God's Word, embrace the call to serve and suffer with purpose, and find rest at the feet of Christ — for there we encounter not only the Lord but the fullness of life He brings. These three readings invite us into a rhythm of Christian life.

1. Hospitality as a Door to Divine Encounter

In the passage Genesis 18:1–10a, Abraham welcomes three unknown visitors at the oak of Mamre. Though he doesn’t immediately recognize them as divine, he hastens to offer generous hospitality. His openness to strangers becomes the very channel through which God confirms His promise of new life — the birth of Isaac. In theology, this episode is also likened to the Holy Trinity. Three people taking the hospitality of Abraham is richely rewarded with new lease of life for Abraham.

How often does God come to us in the disguise of another — a guest, a stranger, a beggar, or even a family member in need of time and love? True Christian hospitality is not about simply offering food or space, but about making room in our hearts for others. Abraham teaches us that welcoming others with warmth and joy invites divine blessings into our lives.

 2. Sharing in Christ’s Suffering and Glory

St. Paul speaks in Colossians 1:24–28 about joy in the suffering for the sake of the Church. He carries in his heart a deep responsibility: to make known the mystery of Christ, not as a distant God but as “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Suffering, when united with Christ’s mission, becomes a profound expression of love. Paul’s words remind us that Christian discipleship is not always easy. It involves sacrifice, patience, and perseverance. But our pain, when offered in communion with Christ, becomes redemptive. Through our trials, the presence of Christ grows in us — transforming wounds into witness. We are all called to be stewards of this divine mystery: to carry Christ within and to reveal Him to others. 

3. Choosing the Better Part

 In Luke 10:38–42, we see in the home of Martha and Mary, Jesus reveals a profound spiritual truth. Martha, busy with many tasks, is “worried and distracted,” while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening. Jesus gently reminds Martha that Mary has chosen “the better part,” which will not be taken from her.

This Gospel does not dismiss service, but it highlights the priority of presence — being with the Lord. In our noisy and distracted world, we may find ourselves constantly doing for Jesus, while forgetting to be with Him. Mary teaches us the value of contemplative love — of listening deeply and allowing His Word to shape our hearts. There is a time to serve and a time to sit. We must learn to balance both — to be Martha in our hands and Mary in our hearts. Let us open our hearts this Sunday — to receive, to suffer with purpose, and to sit at the feet of Christ. For in doing so, we will welcome not just the Lord, but the fullness of life He offers.

Questions for self-reflection

1. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to be interrupted for the sake of love? Do we recognize the sacred in the ordinary moments of service and presence?
2. Are we willing to embrace both the cost and the joy of discipleship?
3. Will you let go of anxiety and distraction, and choose the stillness that brings peace?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You came into the home of Martha and Mary, you appeared to Abraham with a promise, and through Paul, you revealed the mystery of your presence in us. Teach us to welcome you into our lives with open hearts, to listen to your Word in silence and peace, and to serve others with love, not with anxiety or distraction. Help us to see your presence in the people we meet, in the work we do, and even in the trials we face. May we learn each day to choose what truly matters — to sit at your feet, to carry you within us, and to bring your love to the world around us. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

18 July 2025