16th
Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. July 20, 2025
Genesis 18:1-10a; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42
Theme:
“Physical” and “Spiritual” Hospitality, Active and Contemplative Christian
Lifestyles
A. A
Brief Exegetical Analysis of Luke 10:38-42
1. Historical
and Literary Contexts
This
text is taken from the conclusion of chap. 10, which is set within the context
of Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:27), where his Passion, Death,
Resurrection, and Ascension will take place. In this large section, Jesus
equips his followers with various teachings and training to prepare them for
the roles they will assume after his earthly life. The stories about the
greatest commandment and the parable of the Good Samaritan (vv. 25-37) precede
our passage, and the Lord’s prayer (11:1-4) immediately follows it.
2. Form,
Structure, and Movement
This
narrative account is organized into two movements. The narrator first
introduces the story (vv. 38-39) before recounting the conversation between
Martha and Jesus (vv. 40-42).
3. Detailed
Analysis
Vv.
38-39. Jesus and his disciples continue their journey. This is Jesus’ long
journey to Jerusalem (9:51–19:27), where his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and
Ascension will occur. They arrive at the home of Martha and her sister Mary
(the siblings of Lazarus), who welcome them and offer hospitality. Luke
contrasts Martha’s physical hospitality to Jesus, as she prepares food for her
guests, with Mary’s spiritual hospitality to Jesus, as she sits at Jesus’ feet
in the posture of a disciple, listening to the Word of God. Martha “gives” to
Jesus what she has, and Mary “receives” from Jesus the Word of God that Jesus
has. Martha’s physical hospitality represents an active Christian lifestyle (reaching
out to the needy), while Mary’s spiritual hospitality illustrates a
contemplative Christian lifestyle (reaching out to God in prayer).[1]
Vv.
40-42. Martha is concerned because her sister Mary is not helping her in the
kitchen to prepare food on time for their hungry guests. Mary does not assist
because she is busy sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to the Word of God. In
v. 40, Martha suggests that Jesus should stop or at least temporarily pause
proclaiming God’s Word so her sister can help her in the kitchen. In his
response, Jesus emphasizes that, while physical hospitality or an active
Christian lifestyle is also important, spiritual hospitality or a contemplative
Christian lifestyle takes priority.
4. Synthesis
In
this Gospel story, Luke contrasts two forms of hospitality: physical and
spiritual. Martha’s physical hospitality represents an active Christian
lifestyle, while Mary’s spiritual hospitality illustrates a contemplative
Christian lifestyle. Although both are valuable as they complement each other,
Jesus highlights that spiritual hospitality, or a contemplative Christian
lifestyle, takes priority.
B. Pastoral
Implications
1. Liturgical
Context
Today’s Scripture
readings explore two aspects of hospitality: physical and spiritual, which
represent two dimensions of being a Christian. The “physical hospitality” of
Abraham and Sarah (in the first reading) and Martha (in the Gospel) shows an
active Christian lifestyle, while Mary’s spiritual hospitality (in the Gospel)
reflects a contemplative Christian lifestyle. In the second reading, Saint Paul
affirms that Christ is within us. This means that when we help the needy
through physical hospitality, it is Jesus whom we serve, and when we proclaim
and listen to the Word of God through spiritual hospitality, it is Jesus whom
we proclaim and listen to.
2. What
the Church Teaches Us Today
In the first reading,
Abraham and Sarah demonstrated “physical hospitality” to strangers they did not
know. In the Gospel, Martha carefully worked in the kitchen for Jesus, the
guest she knew well. In both cases, these figures showed great love for their
guests without expecting anything in return. Our Holy Mother Church calls us to
be active Christians who practice “physical hospitality” by reaching out to the
needy we know and those we do not know, and helping them without expecting
repayment.
In addition to being
“active Christians,” our Holy Mother Church also encourages us to become
“contemplative Christians” by extending our “spiritual hospitality” to Jesus.
Our Gospel shows Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet in the posture of a disciple,
listening carefully to his Word and contemplating him. First, like Mary, we
also sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to his Word (1) whenever we participate in
the first part of the Mass, the celebration of the Word of God, attentively and
intentionally, (2) whenever we teach, proclaim, study, and share the Word of
God with others, (3) and when we read and pray along with the Bible on our own.
Second, like Martha’s sister, we also contemplate Jesus (1) whenever we take
part in the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, attentively
and prayerfully, (2) when we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy
Communion reverently, (3) and when we devoutly adore Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament (the Eucharistic Adoration). Amid our busy schedules, let us make
time to sit at Jesus’ feet, listening to his Word and contemplating him in the
Holy Eucharist.
Based on Gn 18:16 and
19:1, which continue our first reading story, we understand that the guests of
Abraham and Sarah were travelers. Similarly, Jesus and his disciples, who are
the guests of Martha and Mary, were also on a journey. This teaches us that
everyone is on an earthly journey, and both physical and spiritual hospitality
are essential for us to stay strong physically and spiritually until we reach
our ultimate destination in heaven one day. Therefore, our Holy Mother Church
calls us to help each other by practicing both physical and spiritual
hospitality. Because Christ is within us, as Saint Paul tells us in the second
reading, we should know that when we help the needy through physical
hospitality, it is Jesus whom we serve; likewise, when we proclaim and listen
to the Word of God through spiritual hospitality, it is Jesus whom we proclaim
and listen to.
Although
both “physical” and “spiritual” hospitality are important because they
complement each other, Jesus emphasizes in our Gospel that spiritual
hospitality, or a contemplative Christian lifestyle, takes priority.
Let us pray to God during
this Eucharistic celebration that we become active and contemplative Christians
who extend our “physical” and “spiritual” hospitality to our fellow humans and
Jesus. Amen.
Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, Jackson, MS
&
SVD USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
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