WAYS OF RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL

REFLECTION FOR THE 16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  Year C

THEME: WAYS  OF RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL

R1: Genesis 18:1-10

R2: Colossians 1:24-28

Gospel: Luke:10 :38-42_

Dear friends, our creation by God communicates His divine intention for us. It is an invitation for us to answer the call of loving, serving and uniting with Him at last. Through our baptism, we respond to this call by accepting a special duty of (i) hospitality to our neighbours, (ii) suffering for the sake of the gospel, and (iii) connecting with Christ through listening to his Word. These three aspects go together and are essential in preparing us for the final unification with God at. The readings of today explain these three aspects and their importance in our Christian journey. 

In the first reading, hospitality as the first aspect of responding to God is explained.  Abraham attended to his visitors, without knowing they were God’s messengers. He sacrificed his time and treasure for God’s people and this merited him a favour (a child) from God. Martha also demonstrated this aspect of hospitality when she attended to Jesus; their great guest.  These communicate an essential aspect of our call as Christians, which is to take care and be hospitable to others.  Kindness shown to others is a kindness shown to God and there is no amount of kindness shown that will not be rewarded. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver. Just as we read last Sunday, let us always be the Good Samaritan to others, like Abraham and Martha today.

Our experiences as Christians differ. Some people are being appreciated and loved for being Christians while in many situations others are hated and persecuted. If our experience is the ugly one, St Paul tells us in the second reading that persecution is part of responding to God’s call. While preaching Christ, he suffered many trying times. This experience is still common even now where Christians are being insulted, abused and even killed for the sake of God. These trying times should not make a Christian change from doing the right thing and professing the good news of salvation. Being assured of the blessedness which awaits  those who are persecuted for righteousness sake and are insulted for his name, there is need to remain unwavering in faith for the kingdom of God will be our reward (Mt 5:10-12).

In the midst of the above two aspects of responding to God’s call, the ultimate is listening to the word of God and contemplation. This is the aspect Jesus told Martha that Mary has chosen in the Gospel reading. Jesus told Martha that Mary has chosen a BETTER PART which no one would collect from her. This indicates that as a disciple of Christ, this is an indispensible approach. Whether we are champions in hospitality or suffering a lot of persecutions for the sake of Christ, there is need to always remain connected to Jesus by hearing his voice again and again. Unfortunately, many Christians do not consider this aspect as important.

Sometime ago, I was discussing with a man who said he is a Christian but due to the nature of his work he hardly has time for God. Surprisingly he said that he is performing his Christian duty being charitable, hence, he is good to go. When I asked him about his prayer life, he said no, he does not pray. I asked him if he makes out time to read the Bible but he said he has no Bible. Funny enough, many Christians belong to this category. There are many Christians who claim to be too busy, they do not pray, some do not read the Bible, many do not even have the Bible, many of those who have it do not read it. How then can we comfortably say then that we are Christians? If you love someone, you will like to hear the person’s voice. In the same way, if we love Jesus, we must love hearing his voice. 

The word of God strengthens us, it keeps us going, it revives us, and it nourishes us. Therefore my friends, while _‘we go about doing the work of God, let us not forget the God of work’_, by not mapping out a little time for contemplation.

*Rev Fr Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.