FAUSTI - The Samaritan can now stop on his way to Jerusalem: 'it is a house that welcomes Him. But there are two ways to welcome Him: Martha and Mary. The first is probably a figure of a certain Israel, entirely occupied in doing many things for Him who is called the Lord for three times, she observes the 613 precepts to prepare for the encounter with Him. But she did not realize that He had arrived. Mary, the younger, is Israel, who knows the visit of His Lord. Like Mary of Nazareth, she says: "Here I am" and she welcomes the Word. For this reason she blocks all other services and rejoices in the presence of the Bridegroom, whose joy is that the bride may rejoice. She sits at His feet and listens to His voice. The wedding has come: from a disciple of the law she becomes a disciple of the Lord. The house of Martha - as the house of Mary! - is that house suspended between Jericho and Jerusalem where the Samaritan stops with His weight and rests. Welcomed, it is He Himself who welcomes and teaches the mystery of the Father's acceptance in our brothers . Here He reveals the mystery of the Father and the Son to those who hear Him: He heals them with the balm of His presence, inebriates them with the wine of His Word, so that they may follow Him on His way. This Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, is the same one who performs the anointing of Bethany (Mt 26:6-13). She could be the one who sprays tears and dries with her hair, perfumes and kisses the feet of the One who has walked so long to be near to her. (Jn 7,36...). Now, reconciled, she has a house to welcome Him; She herself, whose eyes are blessed in His Face and whose ears receive His Word. With sovereign freedom she enjoys His Love, without taking into consideration the disappointment of the good Martha, just as she did not care of Simon, Pharisee or leper. And Jesus approves it without reservation. His presence is joy for Mary, and hard work for his sister Marta. The two are not in simple opposition: they are sisters! The opposition is only seen by one who wants to recall the other to her duty. Instead, Jesus will call Martha back to transform herself into Mary! The expectation opens up to its fulfillment and is appeased in it! It is not exact to oppose Martha and Mary as action and contemplation. Luke simply wants to purify action in contemplation. The source of Mary's action is the groom's listening and joy. Her action will spring from contemplation, and she will never abandon it: she will always remain contemplative even in action. In her we see the inversion operated by the Gospel; she can finally love and welcome, because He first loved and welcomed her. The absolute silence of Mary, who does not do and does not say anything, is the perfect "denial" of her own self that struggles to assert itself, with good or evil it matters little, just to be the protagonist. She forgets of herself, she realizes herself in the highest form of life, she is for the Other and from the Other, entirely intent on the One that listens, entirely welcomed into the Other that welcomes. In Mary who sees and listens to the Samaritan, there is the consummation of the beatitude of the disciple: to see and listen to the Lord. The passage reminds us of the foundation of our discipleship. It does not consist of the things we do - even if they are necessary and very important! - but in listening to Jesus. From this listening comes the "doing" that builds the house on the rock. His Word is the first work of Mercy of the Father towards all His children. That is why the disciples say: "It is not right that we neglect the Word of God for the service of the tables" (Acts 6:2). In fact, "not only does man live on bread, but on every Word that comes out of the mouth of God (4,4 = Dt 8,3). This Word is a seed which, received, bears fruit in the bread which gives us the Life of the Son. In this way we share in His Compassion and act like Him, who does what He sees the Father doing (Jn 5:19).
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 108 Reading 1 GN 18:1-10A The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham 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, he said: "Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. 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." The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls." He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He replied, "There in the tent." One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son." Responsorial Psalm PS 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 R.(1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. One who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. One who does these things shall never be disturbed. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Reading 2 COL 1:24-28 Brothers and sisters: 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, 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, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Alleluia CF. LK 8:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel LK 10:38-42 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. 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." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her."
FAUSTI - The Samaritan can now stop on his way to Jerusalem: 'it is a house that welcomes Him. But there are two ways to welcome Him: Martha and Mary.
RispondiEliminaThe first is probably a figure of a certain Israel, entirely occupied in doing many things for Him who is called the Lord for three times, she observes the 613 precepts to prepare for the encounter with Him.
But she did not realize that He had arrived.
Mary, the younger, is Israel, who knows the visit of His Lord. Like Mary of Nazareth, she says: "Here I am" and she welcomes the Word. For this reason she blocks all other services and rejoices in the presence of the Bridegroom, whose joy is that the bride may rejoice.
She sits at His feet and listens to His voice. The wedding has come: from a disciple of the law she becomes a disciple of the Lord.
The house of Martha - as the house of Mary! - is that house suspended between Jericho and Jerusalem where the Samaritan stops with His weight and rests.
Welcomed, it is He Himself who welcomes and teaches the mystery of the Father's acceptance in our brothers .
Here He reveals the mystery of the Father and the Son to those who hear Him: He heals them with the balm of His presence, inebriates them with the wine of His Word, so that they may follow Him on His way.
This Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, is the same one who performs the anointing of Bethany (Mt 26:6-13). She could be the one who sprays tears and dries with her hair, perfumes and kisses the feet of the One who has walked so long to be near to her. (Jn 7,36...).
Now, reconciled, she has a house to welcome Him; She herself, whose eyes are blessed in His Face and whose ears receive His Word. With sovereign freedom she enjoys His Love, without taking into consideration the disappointment of the good Martha, just as she did not care of Simon, Pharisee or leper.
And Jesus approves it without reservation.
His presence is joy for Mary, and hard work for his sister Marta.
The two are not in simple opposition: they are sisters!
The opposition is only seen by one who wants to recall the other to her duty.
Instead, Jesus will call Martha back to transform herself into Mary!
The expectation opens up to its fulfillment and is appeased in it!
It is not exact to oppose Martha and Mary as action and contemplation.
Luke simply wants to purify action in contemplation.
The source of Mary's action is the groom's listening and joy.
Her action will spring from contemplation, and she will never abandon it: she will always remain contemplative even in action. In her we see the inversion operated by the Gospel; she can finally love and welcome, because He first loved and welcomed her.
The absolute silence of Mary, who does not do and does not say anything, is the perfect "denial" of her own self that struggles to assert itself, with good or evil it matters little, just to be the protagonist.
She forgets of herself, she realizes herself in the highest form of life, she is for the Other and from the Other, entirely intent on the One that listens, entirely welcomed into the Other that welcomes.
In Mary who sees and listens to the Samaritan, there is the consummation of the beatitude of the disciple: to see and listen to the Lord. The passage reminds us of the foundation of our discipleship. It does not consist of the things we do - even if they are necessary and very important! - but in listening to Jesus.
From this listening comes the "doing" that builds the house on the rock.
His Word is the first work of Mercy of the Father towards all His children. That is why the disciples say: "It is not right that we neglect the Word of God for the service of the tables" (Acts 6:2). In fact, "not only does man live on bread, but on every Word that comes out of the mouth of God (4,4 = Dt 8,3).
This Word is a seed which, received, bears fruit in the bread which gives us the Life of the Son. In this way we share in His Compassion and act like Him, who does what He sees the Father doing (Jn 5:19).
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
RispondiEliminaLectionary: 108
Reading 1 GN 18:1-10A
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham 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, he said:
"Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
and then rest yourselves under the tree.
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."
The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
"Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls."
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
as well as the steer that had been prepared,
and set these before the three men;
and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?"
He replied, "There in the tent."
One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah will then have a son."
Responsorial Psalm PS 15:2-3, 3-4, 5
R.(1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Reading 2 COL 1:24-28
Brothers and sisters:
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,
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,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Alleluia CF. LK 8:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 10:38-42
Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
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."
The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."