Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Genesis 18:1-10; Psalm 14;

Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42

‘Welcome’ is a wonderful word and a great feeling. The Lord gives welcome to us whenever we go to him. By his grace, we may give welcome to him in our lives this day.

Notes on the Readings

The First Reading

When Abraham gave hospitality to three strangers he did not know that he was entertaining God himself, who would reward him with good news.

The Responsorial Psalm

A man of faith has nothing to fear.

The Second Reading

Paul, a minister of the good news of the calling of the Gentiles to salvation, suffers for his converts.

The Gospel

The Gospel contrasts Martha’s activity and Mary’s quiet devotion to the Lord.

Reflection

One can imagine Martha dramatically sighing with every wipe of the cloth on the table and removal of every cup and saucer. Her actions crying out `notice me'. It is always impressive when one meets someone who has an incredibly full diary, spends a lot of time travelling from one meeting to anoth­er and yet is always calm; they are good to be with; calming.

The opposite is true of those with similar diaries who lack the inner peace and calm that comes from time spent in stillness and silence. It can seem very naive of preachers speaking about the need for silence and stillness to people with mammoth amounts to do, and frantic disjointed lives to lead. However there has to be that pause button. One of the great joys of modern life is having a button on the remote-control with which we can pause a live television programme. We need a button like that for ourselves. We will not miss any­thing, we will not waste time.

We all simply have to commit some time in our day to being still and silent. The rewards are wonderful; we become calmer, less agitated, more patient, more aware of ourselves and others, we might even become holy. Instead of waiting for a holiday or a break, instead of becoming barren and exhaust­ed, time spent with Jesus makes us fertile and productive. How can we hope to dis­cern what is important from that which is nonsense? How can we hope to deal with the unexpected and the disastrous? There is this ridiculous revving up of life, we are going faster and faster. We are getting tired and when we are tired we are not at our best. Rest; be still, there is always time for God.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Genesis 18:1-10; Psalm 14;

Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42

‘Welcome’ is a wonderful word and a great feeling. The Lord gives welcome to us whenever we go to him. By his grace, we may give welcome to him in our lives this day.

Notes on the Readings

The First Reading

When Abraham gave hospitality to three strangers he did not know that he was entertaining God himself, who would reward him with good news.

The Responsorial Psalm

A man of faith has nothing to fear.

The Second Reading

Paul, a minister of the good news of the calling of the Gentiles to salvation, suffers for his converts.

The Gospel

The Gospel contrasts Martha’s activity and Mary’s quiet devotion to the Lord.

Reflection

One can imagine Martha dramatically sighing with every wipe of the cloth on the table and removal of every cup and saucer. Her actions crying out `notice me'. It is always impressive when one meets someone who has an incredibly full diary, spends a lot of time travelling from one meeting to anoth­er and yet is always calm; they are good to be with; calming.

The opposite is true of those with similar diaries who lack the inner peace and calm that comes from time spent in stillness and silence. It can seem very naive of preachers speaking about the need for silence and stillness to people with mammoth amounts to do, and frantic disjointed lives to lead. However there has to be that pause button. One of the great joys of modern life is having a button on the remote-control with which we can pause a live television programme. We need a button like that for ourselves. We will not miss any­thing, we will not waste time.

We all simply have to commit some time in our day to being still and silent. The rewards are wonderful; we become calmer, less agitated, more patient, more aware of ourselves and others, we might even become holy. Instead of waiting for a holiday or a break, instead of becoming barren and exhaust­ed, time spent with Jesus makes us fertile and productive. How can we hope to dis­cern what is important from that which is nonsense? How can we hope to deal with the unexpected and the disastrous? There is this ridiculous revving up of life, we are going faster and faster. We are getting tired and when we are tired we are not at our best. Rest; be still, there is always time for God.