Homily: 16th Sun. In Ordinary Time, YR C
True Hospitality: To Give & Receive
By Fr. William Holtzinger
July 18, 2004

Today we’ve stepped inside the events of Abraham, Sarah, Paul, Martha, and Mary. All five of these people give us an insight into hospitality as a spiritual gift and exercise. Let’s look at each account for some insight.
Abraham and Sarah are visited by three persons who express the divine presence (and who Christians look to as a theophany of the Triune God). In the heat of the day, they even cook an entire steer for their guests.
St. Paul rejoices in his sufferings. Not unlike Abraham and Sarah, his life was being poured out for God. Keep in mind that he doesn’t say that suffering in itself is great, but that the cause for which he suffers give value and meaning to his suffering. His words are a key for all who suffer in their lives.
Finally, Martha and Mary encounter God through the visitation of Jesus, their good friend. Martha get busy in cooking for Jesus and Mary gets busy listening to their guest. Each has their role, but one has become bitter at the other, a reaction for which all of us have been be tempted.
So each of these persons help fill out true hospitality. In hispanic cultures, there is a saying which says, “Mi casa es tu casa.” In other words, my house is your house. This mirrors the sentiments of the culture of people living in the Mediterranean during Biblical times. Abraham and Sarah forsake their comfort for their guests and give their guests their best. Paul is willing to even die for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. Martha jumps at the chance to make a meal for Jesus. But, Mary seems to be rather enigmatic. She confronts our sensibilities as she doesn’t follow any of the models set before her for hospitality. Or does she?
It is said that it is better to give than receive. We are challenged to give until it hurts. But, hospitality is more than just giving. Indeed, giving and serving can be a way that one can avoid dealing with the most difficult side of hospitality. That side is one of receptivity. True love is an exchange, not a one sided affair. We must both give and receive if we are to truly be hospitable and loving. In our pride, we can get busy to help so that others can notice us. Or we might work real hard but reject any accolades and thus reject the giver of the praise.
True hospitality requires true humility. We must be open and hunger to hear or receive from the one who comes to us. Mass is a movement of giving and receiving. Contemplative prayer is best known for receptivity. Yet, we are all too familiar with prayer as a filling with our words. How often do you listen instead of talk?
Today, exercise true hospitality by not only giving, but spend the energy to also receive. When someone give you a compliment, say, “Thank you,” not “Oh, it’s nothing.” Mary’s actions complete the journey of hospitality in our Scriptures today. Not only be one of giving, but spent time receiving. Stop sometime this week and just appreciate the life you have. When you express you thanks to God, give God some space in your heart to receive his thanks back to you. Then when you receive the Eucharist today, you will put into action the very meaning of the the word, Eucharist. Today we give and then receive. We give our hearts, the fruits of our labor, and in return we receive the greatest gift of all who is Christ’s very presence.