16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this
discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that
passage.
1st Reading - Genesis 18:1-10a
The first book of the Bible derives its name from the Greek rendering
of chapter 2, verse 4: “these are the generations (genesis) of
the heavens and the earth.” Tradition has it that Moses is the
author – that is, he wrote down the oral traditions which had
been passed down through the preceding centuries.
The first eleven chapters of Genesis recount such events as the
creation of the earth, the flood, and the Tower of Babel. It is not
until we get to the twelfth chapter that we are able to place a date on
the events recounted with any certainty. Abram was called by God to
journey to Canaan about 1850 B.C.. At that time Abram was 75 years old
and God made him three promises of blessing; promises which were later
solemnized by covenants: A nation, made a covenant in Genesis 15, and
fulfilled in Moses; a name (dynasty, kingdom), made a covenant in
Genesis 17:1-19, and fulfilled in David; and a worldwide blessing, made
a covenant in Genesis 22 and fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. It was with
Abram becoming Abraham, the father of all nations, at the making of the
second covenant, that men and women began to rely upon God in faith and
are changed by it. For today’s reading we join Abraham shortly
after his name change. Abraham is 99 years old and he, along with all
male members of his household, has just been circumcised.
18:1 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth
A terebinth is a small tree native to the Mediterranean region that
yields a resinous liquid. It is sometimes called a “terpentine
tree.” Other translations show “oaks,” a shade tree
which is large.
of Mamre,
The meaning is uncertain, but Mamre is thought to be a place near
Hebron. It is associated with Abraham (in this reading), Isaac (in
Genesis 35:27), and Jacob. To the east of Mamre is the cave in which
were buried Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob. This site
is now located in Hebron and is a mosque. Recently (several years ago)
this mosque was shot up by a Jewish settler. The site is believed to
have been a place of sanctuary in ancient times.
as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. 2
Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran
from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground,
Oriental hospitality demanded this action – it is nothing more than common courtesy.
3 he said: “Sir,
Literally, “my lord” – a common courteous greeting.
if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. 4
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest
yourselves under the tree. 5 Now that you have come this close to your
servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh
yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” “Very
well,” they replied, “do as you have said.” 6 Abraham
hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three seahs of
fine flour!
3 seahs = 1 bushel
Knead it and make rolls.” 7 He ran to the herd, picked out a
tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared
it. 8 Then he got some curds
Used to make cheese. Cottage cheese is strained and seasoned curds of skim milk.
and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these
before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate. 9
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There in
the tent,” he replied. 10a One of them said, “I will surely
return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a
son.”
This is the same promise made to Abraham by God in Genesis 17:6.
Abraham’s reaction is to laugh (Genesis 17:17). Immediately
following our reading today, Sarah laughs at the news (Genesis 18:12).
The child born was named Isaac, which means “laughter”.
2nd Reading - Colossians 1:24-28
Last week we started our study of the Letter to the Colossians. Recall
that Paul was using this occasion to answer the Judaizers and remind
them of the absolute supremacy of Jesus the Christ. Today Paul tells us
his role in proclaiming the gospel.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and
in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of
Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church,
Interpreters have debated two issues related to this phrase: 1) The
meaning of filling up what is lacking; and 2) The meaning of the
sufferings of Christ. It does not mean that Christ’s work was
somehow insufficient. The word thilipsis translated here as
“sufferings” is never used to describe Christ’s
passion, but it is used regularly to describe the hardships of those
proclaiming the gospel. Paul’s vocation as an apostle is to
complete the preaching of the gospel by bringing the Good News to
places where Christ has never been preached. My personal interpretation
(not Church dogma): The Church is the Body of Christ. We are united to
Him through the Eucharist at the 3rd cup of the Passover meal and we
are called to live out His life every day (just recall what He did
between the Upper Room and Calvary) until we drink the 4th cup with Him
in heaven. Suffering is necessary because it purifies and focuses, and
persecution is a reward for discipleship.
“In regard to this is that which in another place the very same
apostle says: ‘I now rejoice in sufferings for you, and I full up
those things which are wanting of the afflictions of Christ in my
flesh.’ He did not say ‘of the afflictions of me’ but
‘of Christ,’ because he was a member of Christ and in his
persecutions, such as it was necessary for Christ to suffer in His
whole body, even Paul was filling up Christ’s afflictions in
Paul’s own portion.” [Saint Augustine of Hippo (A.D.
416), Homilies on the Gospel of John 108,5,1]
25 of which I am a minister in accordance with
God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the
word of God, 26 the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
God’s divine plan for the world – that it is reconciled to
Him through His Son. It is called a mystery because it is far beyond
our comprehension and could never be understood without divine
assistance.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, 27 to whom God chose to make known
The revelation of the mystery is from God.
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
In Colossians there is only one mention of the Holy Spirit (Colossians
1:8) and it is generic and vague. Rather, it is the Risen Christ
Himself who performs the functions attributed to the Spirit in the
other epistles.
“And with reason he calls that a mystery, which none knew except
God. And from where hid? In Christ; as he says in the Epistle to the
Ephesians (3:9). ... But now it has been manifested, he says, ‘to
his holy ones.’ So we know that it is altogether of the
dispensation of God. ‘But now it has been manifested,’ he
says. He does not say ‘is come to pass’ but ‘has been
manifested to his holy ones.’ So that it is even now still hid,
since it has been manifested to his holy ones alone.” [Saint John
Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 400), Homilies on the Epistle to the Colossians 5]
28 It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching
everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in
Christ.
The mystery is not a secret revealed to a few privileged initiates, as
in pagan mystery religions, but it is destined for the whole world.
There are no limitations.
Gospel - Luke 10:38-42
Last week we heard the parable of the good Samaritan. Shocking because
the Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be even lesser than the
pagans – although the Samaritans also worshiped the same God as
did the Jews. Today again we hear of Jesus acting contrary to Jewish
cultural norms in three ways: He is alone with women who are not his
relatives, He is being served by a woman, and He is teaching a woman in
her own house.
38 As they continued their journey he entered a
village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
The name “Martha” means “lady”, a feminine form of “lord.”
39 She had a sister named Mary
Not to be confused with Mary of Magdala. She is one of seven different Marys in the New Testament.
(who) sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
The posture of a disciple (see Luke 8:35; Acts 22:3).
40 Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him
and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by
myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” 41 The Lord said
to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried
about many things. 42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen
the better part and it will not be taken from her.”
The followers of Jesus need to listen to His word.
This reading again gives us a lesson on prayer. Martha approaches the
Lord with a problem and the solution she wants to that problem, and the
answer she receives is not the one she wanted. Mary, Jesus’
mother, on the other hand at the wedding feast at Cana pointed out the
problem to Jesus and left it up to Him to work out the solution.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org