SIXTEENTH
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME(Genesis
18:1-10; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42)
Academics emphasize
inclusivity. They insist that student essays use pronouns that gender neutral. One
must write “his or hers” or even “they” rather than just “his”. The historians among them no longer report only
the successes and defeats of European men. Rather they will tell what was
happening at the same time to Africans, Asians, and indigenous peoples.
The
emphasis on other types of people helps us appreciate that minorities have
contributed much to our society. We have a great example of sensitivity to
minorities in the New Testament. The Gospel of Saint Luke includes several
stories from the point of view of the less considered. We remember how Luke
writes of both Elizabeth and Zacharias. In the temple Luke reports the
experience of both Anna and Simeon. Later in his work Luke tells of the
housewife searching for a lost coin after recounting the story of the shepherd
looking for the lost sheep. We can think of the gospel today as another example
of inclusiveness.
Let's
remember what happened last Sunday. A doctor of the law asks Jesus: "'What
must I do to inherit eternal life?'" When Jesus answers with insight, the
doctor wants to "justify himself". That is, he wants to appear intelligent
and sensible, not naive. We can see in Martha this same desire to "justify
herself." She doesn't want to look like a fool doing all the work of
entertaining a guest. She appeals to the Lord to admonish her sister Mary to
help her. She knows that he is a just judge who will do what is right.
But Martha
has not yet realized that friendship with Jesus consists as much in study and
prayer as in service to him. We cannot follow Jesus if we are not going to take
his teachings seriously. It would be like someone marrying another whom she or
he does not know. More than being baptized or financially supporting the church,
being a Christian means coming to know Jesus. For this reason, the parish
priest feels sorry when he hears parishioners missing mass to sell tacos at the
parish fair.
Martha is a
saint. It would be wrong to condemn her. But in this case Mary is right to
listen attentively to him while she has the opportunity. We need to imitate
her. We, too, need to take advantage of opportunities to know the Lord when
they occur. It is true that our responsibilities do not end with reflection.
Sooner or later, we have to evangelize and carry out our particular ministry. However,
it must be remembered as well that the Lord is not an ogre who wants us to work
without ceasing. It can be said with confidence that He wants us to develop as persons.
He wants us to do his will through meditation, prayer, and service.
Today many
criticize the Church for not being inclusive. This criticism does not appear to
me as fair. The Church is open to everyone of good will. After twenty centuries
meditating on the Word of God, the Church has discerned that she cannot ordain
women or give Communion to the divorced and remarried. But all are always
welcome to participate in her riches. In fact, they are encouraged to come to
meditate like Mary and serve like Martha.
