Sunday July 21st 2019
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C)
Guess who’s coming to Dinner!
The tie in between
today’s readings is: Holy Communion is Serious Stuff
“The time has come to take care of some business on the earth,”
said God, “Let’s take a couple of angels on the road with us and visit our
friend Abraham while we’re down there.”
We pick up the scene with today’s reading in Genesis
18:1-10. It was another scorching desert
afternoon, entirely too hot to do anything but chill out in the shade by the
tent. Through the mirage-like distortion of heat waves rising off the sand,
Abraham sees three “men” in the distance. They’re coming toward him. He jumps
up and sprints to meet them. Bowing prostrate, he pleads that they accept his
hospitality. They agree and the progenitor of the Jewish nation, the defeater
of armies, and our father in faith springs up and bolts back to the tent.
“Hurry, Sarah,” he says, “Take three measures of fine flour and make some
bread. I’ll have a servant prepare a calf...milk and cottage cheese too. We
must outdo ourselves today. The Boss is coming to dinner!” In the text, the
mention of Levitical ceremonial items, the calf and flour, hint at the scene
being more of a sacrificial meal rather than a communal one. Abraham standing by as a waiting servant
enforces this sense. He watches as the visitors eat and does not join in. The
Almighty has graced him with his presence. In humility, he responds by laying
all that he has, even himself, before the Lord with open hands and open heart.
Though God declared that he and Abraham are friends, Abraham knows that they
are not buds. We should always keep that boundary with the Master in mind.
Martha was very happy when Jesus accepted her invitation to
stay over the house. Dinner might be a challenge, but she had her sister, Mary,
to help. Mary couldn’t contain herself when He and His disciples arrived! After
greeting them, Martha returned to the kitchen. Mary planted herself at Jesus’
feet, eager to hear what He had to say. She knew her customary place was
helping Martha in the kitchen, but wild horses couldn’t drag her away. This was
Jesus after all! Martha’s annoyance with Mary grew to frustration as she
ignored her throat clearing and pot clanging hints for assistance. It didn’t
help that word about Jesus got out to the neighborhood. Everyone was dropping
in. The Master always drew a crowd. They had to be greeted, seated and “meated”
by yours truly, Martha. Finally, the tyranny of the kitchen became unbearable
and right in the middle of one of the Lord’s “blessed be’s”, she exploded.
“Jesus! Can’t you see what’s going on here?” Martha yelled.
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“Chill, Martha!” He soothed. “You’re all over the place. Don’t
go to all this trouble. We’re low maintenance. You asked us to be here. So be
with us like Mary is doing. That’s the more important thing. “Hmmm...I wonder
what Martha did after Jesus’ tender rebuke?”
I read the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42 and it
reminds me of the struggle we go through the days between Thanksgiving and
Christmas: presents vs. presence, buying vs. abiding, in pieces instead of at
peace, always a Martha and never a Mary. Jesus says it doesn’t have to be this
way. Make the better choice. The same battle goes for worship: distractions vs.
contemplation, cares vs. prayers, duty vs. devotion, and concern over leaving
the parking lot when you’ve never really shown up. Stop! Make the better
choice. Even in our daily lives, you can’t do it all: TV, internet, job, and
family...it’s madding! Let something go! Sit at the Master’s feet. Make the
better choice. Because...
Ready or not, one day every believer is going to God’s house
for dinner. He’s not throwing a come as you are barbecue, either. It’s a royal,
glorious, beautifully sublime wedding banquet. You have to prepare! In our
reading in Colossians, the Apostle Paul rejoices over his suffering, of all
things, in fulfilling his God given charge concerning the Church. Paul’s whole
purpose for living is to proclaim the Gospel, admonish, and teach everyone with
all wisdom in order to present every man
complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28). In Psalm 15:1, David asks the
question: O Lord, who can stay at your house (tent)? The remaining four verses
in the Psalm go into a list of virtues a true child of God possesses. Even
though a child of God may have these virtues by reason of the Holy Spirit, they
MUST be cultivated. We can glean some insights from our readings today on how
to do this.
Like Abraham, we need a healthy fear of God. I know that we
don’t hear much about that anymore. Back in the sixties we went to confession
almost weekly, even venial sins. We also fasted at least three hours before
Holy Communion. This fostered humility, focus, and wonder about receiving the
Lord in the Eucharist. These preparations are not required today, but it
doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate them, anyway. Come to Jesus with clean
hands, a pure heart, and reverence. In making the right choices, as with
Martha, rather than saying that we love God we need to be truly in love with God. We can take a lesson
from a church in the New Testament. The church at Ephesus was doctrinally sound
and stood firm against heresies, but Jesus complained that they didn’t love Him
anymore. Their mechanical go through the motion worship changed their romance
with Christ into a dry marriage. How’s your Jesus love affair going? God is all
about the relationship. He uses the dinner example to point this out: Revelation 3:20 (KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice,
and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with
me.
The Boss is coming to dinner! It would be the height of
foolishness to shout from the inside, “I hear you knocking, but you can’t come
in.” So answer the door. Foster your relationship with the Almighty. Each
Eucharist is a sacrificial meal, a communal meal, and an opportunity to draw
closer to Jesus the Lover of your soul. Regain your awe of the Lord and His
table. Pursue Him like a lover with right life choices and holy living so that
when the day comes to meet Him face to face you won’t be a stranger.
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