July 20, 2025
Loving Father,
You welcome us into Your presence and into Your eternal home. May we celebrate our invitation to be in Your company. We also ask You to come and find a place in our hearts and lives. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Commentary
Over the next two weeks, we will consider the theme of hospitality.
We begin with an act of hospitality in the Book of Genesis, where Abraham and Sarah welcome the three mysterious guests. As the story unfolds, we begin to see that the three guests are a manifestation of God.
Early Christians assumed that the three visitors were the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. The famous icon by Rublev shows the three guests — identical in shape and size — as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, the three guests are welcomed with open arms by Abraham.
The end of the story this Sunday has one of the guests say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Certainly, any act of hospitality on Abraham and Sarah’s part will be rewarded by God a hundred-fold. The gift of Isaac and descendants as numerous as the stars would be their reward.
In what way are you hospitable?
Commentary
The three guests of Abraham and Sarah were mysterious. Nevertheless, Our patriarch and matriarch welcomed the mystery and waited on them.
Welcoming the mystery of God is a profound act of hospitality. St. Paul knew this very well when he spoke of the mystery of Jesus Christ. He urged the Colossians ( a Gentile people) to celebrate the “mystery among the Gentiles.” To the Colossians, he says that the mystery is “Christ in you, the hope for glory.”
The mystery of God in Christ was “hidden from ages and generations past,” but is now revealed to those who can accept it. Willingness to accept Christ as God in our lives requires an act of hospitality. It means begging the Lord to come into our heart each day.
How do you welcome Jesus into your heart?
Continued...
Commentary
Our theme of hospitality continues with the famous story of Martha and Mary who welcome their friend Jesus into their home.
In fact, Luke reports that Martha is the one who welcomed Him. This thoughtful act of hospitality should naturally be rewarded. (Indeed, it will be with the raising of her brother Lazarus from the grave.) However, the reward appears to go to Mary who has chosen the better portion by sitting at the feet of the Lord and listening to Him speak.
Hospitality generally follows two forms: active or passive. Whether we are busy preparing a meal for our guests (active hospitality), or just enjoying their company (passive hospitality), we are being hospitable. To be sure, however hospitable we are toward Jesus, we will be rewarded — in this life or the next.
What rewards do you recognize in this life for welcoming Jesus into your heart?
Take time to be a Martha this week:
Make sure you prepare to welcome the Lord in the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist by dressing for the occasion, arriving early to mentally prepare yourself, and reflect on the readings before hand.
Take time to be a Mary this week:
Quiet yourself in your room or pay a visit to church for some quiet and contemplative time. Try to make an hour of rest with your God.
The group sings or says the following song by John Michael Talbot:
Open my eyes, Lord Help me to see Your face Open my eyes, Lord Help me to see
Open my eyes, Lord Help me to see Your face Open my eyes, Lord Help me to see
Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear Your voice Open my ears, Lord
Help me to hear
The prayer continues with Psalm 15
Response: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
R: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Used with Permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood © is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix. Free resources at dphx.org/christ-in-our-neighborhood.
