The First reading highlights the hospitality of Abraham, who received God as a guest and in three separate people yet referring to the one Triune God, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. It is clear that Abraham and Sarah having shown generosity and hospitality to God, receive their desire, and God graciously grants what they had been longing for in their marriage. Hence the long awaited and given up hope in their old age – the child birth of a promised son is found in the favour and blessing of God, having shown reverence and hospitality to God.

Today’s Responsorial Psalm gives us the criterion on how to live our Christian life blamelessly before God. We are reminded to speak the truth always and to do what is right, controlling our tongue in speaking and causing no harm and damage tarnishing our neighbours’ image. It is also forbidden to bribe against the innocent. The calling is for us to walk blamelessly before God.

In the second reading we read how suffering is a part of the calling. Here the mystery spoken of is “Christ in you the hope of glory”, thus the inward presence of Christ in us as followers and the Holy Spirit in us is the sign of future glory. St. Paul toils and struggles with all his strength to see the maturity of his flock in Christ. Can this be appealing to us today? Are we mere Christians or do we long and desire for a mature walk with the Lord? Interestingly, the Gospel proclamation speaks of two sisters who received Jesus into their home. When one was overwhelmingly troubled and exhausted with the serving, the other kept sitting at the feet of the Lord, listening to the word of the Lord.

We see Jesus, encouraging the one who chose to sit at His feet and listen to the word, over the other sister who was preoccupied. Does this mean that serving and the strenuous work involved in same is useless? During the time of Jesus, only males were allowed to sit at the feet of a Teacher. So, when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, Martha was shocked, and in other words, told the Lord, to instruct Mary to not go against the traditions. But the Lord went against the rigid rules of the time. Jesus also said, “Blessed are they who hear God’s word and keep it” compelling us to listen to His word and obey it. Therefore let us try to fathom the important message conveyed to us: to be set apart to listen to the Word and be at the feet of the Lord leaving aside matters of secondary importance is a real blessing in disguise. This is what the Lord wants of us, as hearers and doers of the Word. This seems an impossible task, hence we need the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Abba Father, give us the grace to open our heart and minds to receive your Word and put it in to practice in obedience to you. Amen.