Hospitality of Listening

(Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time: Genesis 18:1-10a, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke: 10:38-42)

Hospitality, especially in arid desert climates, is essential. Without the gift of food, water, and shelter, many desert nomads would never survive. Hospitality can bring life in places of death.

By welcoming the three strangers into his tent for a meal, Abraham modeled what it means to be hospitable, to recognize the imprint of God on each unexpected sojourner. Martha of today's Gospel also embodied the hospitality of Father Abraham by preparing a meal for her friend Jesus.

While Martha's hospitality was certainly valued, it was Mary's hospitality of listening that was exulted and praised by Jesus.

Jesus also calls us to choose "the better part," to be like Mary who offers her whole self by sitting at the feet of Jesus in order to listen. What is it that Jesus the Master says to us? From the Scriptures, we hear the following:
-Love one another as I have loved you.
-Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
-Do not worry about tomorrow.
-I do not condemn you. Your sins are forgiven. 
-Come to me, all you who are labored and burdened. I will give you rest.
-Peace be with you.

As we become hospitable enough to listen to Jesus, we will hear this radical message of peace, reconciliation, and love. It is only after hearing the Word of God that we will be able to break ourselves open, deepen our service to others, and recognize God's presence in the "other."

When we authentically listen, we will soon quiet our own voice in order to hear the voice of those who are different than us. We will hear the pained cries of the oppressed. When we listen with the ear of the heart, then we shall be compelled to do nothing else but to act!

These times of turmoil call for action. Terrorism, violence, institutional racism, indifference, and political partisanship all demand acts of mourning, demonstration, political involvement, awareness, and healthy debate. Yet, our challenge is to first be hospitable listeners. Before doing anything else, we must be open to listen.

Our gift to our nation and world is the gift of listening. This is what we, the Church, can offer. Perhaps our hospitality of listening can bring life to those places plagued by death.