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(20th July 2025) Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Read: (Gen 18:1-10; Col 1: 24-28; Lk 10: 38-42)

Reflect: Giving Priority to God is a Primary act…

Dear friends, we are in the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Everyone needs to realize that priority to God must be a primary act, for when we give God first place, God makes our lives as best as possible. To prioritize God in life would mean that we conceive God at the center of our hearts, decisions, time and values. It is not just a matter of giving God a part of life rather making God as the firm foundation of all that we do. The liturgy of the word enlightens us as to how we can set our hearts and minds on God by prioritizing our lives for God always. The priority of life can be set by recognizing God’s presence, showing readiness to suffer for Christ’s sake and the church and focusing on the primary aspect of life in God rather than the secondary aspects that are additional to beautifying life to be meaningful. So based on the readings of the day, I would like to share with you three points of reflection as how we could prioritize our lives in God;

1. Recognize God’s presence:

To recognize God’s presence at all times needs to be what our hearts desire always, because God is everywhere to people who believe in him always. The recognition of God’s presence in our lives is created by way of constant awareness of God through prayer and good action. God does not appear to us directly, he appears to us in many ways through people, events, nature and every moment of life. We only need to be conscious of his presence and hasten to his calling and commissioning. That’s what we find in the first reading from the book of Genesis.

The First reading from the book of Genesis we read that the Lord appears to Abraham in the form of three men and he recognizes their importance, offers them hospitality providing water, rest, and meal. As they eat, one of the men announces that Sarah would have a son despite her old age. The hospitality and generosity of Abraham to the visitors, who are not ordinary people, perhaps sent men by God and the promise of God is assured. Their words that ‘Sarah would bear a son’ is only the reiteration of God’s promise and commitment. Thus, God’s Presence in the Ordinary is seen in the passage that God does not only appear directly rather through persons and ordinary people.

Today, Abraham’s generosity and hospitality are a model of Christian virtue. It reminds us when we are generous and hospitable to people around us, God would bless us in abundance. Abraham manifested generosity and hospitality in kindness and compassion without any expectation or return. As rewards of their generous and hospitable heart, God attests his fidelity and power for a son to Abraham and Sarah. In addition to the above, many Fathers of the Church have viewed this passage of three visitors as the symbol of the Holy Trinity, the nature of God in three persons.

Today, we need to practice generosity and hospitality, without expecting anything in return. By being open and welcoming to people who are strangers, poor, marginalized and the unknown, we encounter God in them, value, respect them as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We need to be attentive to God’s presence at all times. We do not know how God would choose to manifest himself to us. Sometimes, it could be in significant events or insignificant, we need to be attentive and cultivate awareness through prayer, reflection and action.

Indeed, we need to really admire and take to heart the character of Abraham. One of the key qualities of Abraham is to trust in God’s promises, without doubt and suspicion. He always trusted in God and that’s why the church calls him as Father in Faith. Our trust and confidence need to be at all times, even if things seem impossible or hard, remembering that God is powerful and when we believe in God’s power, God makes the impossible a possible reality. We could never underestimate the timing of God, because God’s timing is perfect for us. He grants us when we need it. That’s what happened to Abraham and that’s what would happen to us if we recognize God’s presence, trust and believe in God his plans, his promises and precepts, God would grant us what we need in life.

2. Readiness to suffer for Christ:

Readiness to suffer for Christ would mean we are ready and willing to endure pain, hardships, difficulties, rejection for love of Jesus and his Church established by Christ, His body. The attitude to suffer for Christ and his church involves sacrifice and commitment. It may cost our lives as martyrdom, but if we are ready to risk life, Jesus gives us the strength to endure and overcome the struggles and sufferings of life. That’s what we find in the second reading from St. Paul’s letter to Colossians.

The Second Reading from St. Paul’s letter to Colossians speaks about his own sufferings and pains he underwent for the sake of the Gospel and for Christ. St. Paul does not regret but rejoices in the suffering and that’s why he is able to say emphatically, “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body, the Church.” Perhaps, it does not mean that Christ’s suffering was incomplete; rather it only underlies that St. Paul is ready and willing to share the sufferings of Christ, for the sake of the Holy Church established by Christ. This should be our attitude and approach too that when we unite our sufferings in Christ, wherever we work for Christ and undergo sufferings or pains in smaller or larger measure, we contribute our share in the growth of the Church.

What is quite interesting about Paul is that he calls himself as a steward of Christ. We all know that the steward has a servant-like attitude and Paul as a servant of Christ is ready and willing to spread the good news of Christ and make Christ known wherever possible. It shows his commitment and love for Christ and the Church. The reason and the responsibility of St. Paul’s stewardship arise out of his love for Christ. The only aim of St. Paul is to spread the good news of Christ, so that they become aware of Christ and his presence in life. It calls for our responsibility to be stewards of Christ. We as Christians are called to be stewards of Christ in our own little way. Today what inspires us to St. Paul is that he did not see his self-growth of himself as preacher and teacher; rather he wished that Christ be made known, so that everyone might be mature in the spirit and spirituality of Christ.

We all of us need to conceive this idea in mind and heart that our mission is the mission of the Church, what Christ has handed over to us through the apostles and disciples. We need to set aside our personal plans and Charisms. Our duty as stewards of Christ must include evangelization, catechizing and making people holy united to Christ always rather than division, confusion and commotion. Today we need to offer our sufferings in the sufferings of Christ. Our sufferings and pains are manifold. It could be physical, emotional, economical or spiritual, but when we offer it to God, the pain is transformed to grace or the battle of life is turned to blessings. So what we should have is commitment and courage to proclaim Christ in our daily life.

It is not necessary that we have to be like Paul, a great preacher and teacher to proclaim Christ everywhere, but what we require is the grace of God that makes our words and deeds manifest Christ in places wherever we live or work or move about joyfully with full commitment and dedication. For such a great height of life we need to seek growth in spiritual maturity. The spiritual maturity can be attained by way of prayer, reading of God’s word, attending holy Mass, going for confession and spiritual direction. I am sure, such spiritual maturity and growth would give us hope to live life joyfully, although we might experience suffering for Christ’s sake. Because, it is not who we live but Christ makes us live in the midst of suffering, when we work for Christ and his church or whenever we proclaim him to the world around us.

As Pope Leo would say, “let us look to Jesus! He shows us the meaning of authentic love for God and for others. It is a love that is generous, not possessive; a love that forgives without question; a love that reaches out and never abandons others. Imitating the example of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we too are called to bring consolation and hope, above all to those who are experiencing discouragement and disappointment.” Yes, this is what St. Paul did and invites us to do the same, drawing inspiration and strength from Jesus. We shall also make efforts to proclaim Christ suffered, crucified and risen in our lives, although we might experience dryness and disappointment in life. May Christ be the centre of life and give us the strength to bear witness to him always.

3. Focus on the primary:

We all know ‘to focus on the primary’ would mean that we place first things first. In order to focus on the primary we make efforts not to get distracted and live with a purpose, keeping our hearts, eyes, minds set on matters that are significant and important. Something similar we find in the gospel passage of the day. In the gospel reading of the day, we have Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary at Bethany is very familiar to us. The passage explains to us on one hand how Martha was busy in welcoming Jesus to serve, to feed and to make his stay comfortable and on the other hand, Mary chose the good portion, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him and drawing nourishment and strength.

However, many scriptural scholars have suggested that the Character presentation of Martha and Mary set before us two attitudinal changes; one is prayer posture by Mary (Contemplative life) and the other is action packed Martha (active life). However, we are not going to downplay their role in the episode. What we are concerned about is in what way we can be closer to Jesus. Both are important, contemplative and active lifestyles. But, we need to remember in order to be active in life; we need contemplatives, that is, to be in close touch with Jesus. When we are in close union with God, God gives us the strength to carry out duties and responsibilities in life meaningfully. That’s what Jesus is trying to communicate to Martha, who was worried and getting worn out about secondary needs. Jesus teaches Martha the primary need for Martha is to be with Jesus and to listen to Jesus. Therefore, interior life comes first than the exterior action.

So today's Gospel passage poses before us certain priorities that we need to set for God in life. We need to make time for personal prayer and for this we need to check our priorities. We have both the characters in the Gospel, manifesting a different spirituality but like Mary we need to sit at the feet of the Lord daily, drawing nourishment and strength. It is in giving preference and priority to Jesus that we become more attuned to his voice and presence. The priority to God or Jesus can be set, provided we avoid the busy syndromes of life. We may be busy with various events or programs in Churches or homes or work places but we need to be clear about our roles and responsibilities, basics and priorities of our living, that is, to set our hearts and minds for God.

Today, God expects us to be closer to him than anybody or anything in the world. It is only by setting our priorities to God that we can serve God and others with peace without any pressure. Thus, Jesus values presence over our performance. We are ready to do many things Martha but we do not have time to sit before Jesus like Mary and draw strength and nourishment for life. So our primary step is to set priority to God in life that will solve every problem and pressures of life amicably.

Indeed, Martha was not at fault in her activity, because she intended to make the stay of Jesus comfortable and wanted to treat him the best way possible. But Jesus did not expect best treatment of food and shelter rather sitting close to him and listening to him and knowing him better for life. That’s why Jesus even says, “Martha, you are worried about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Yes, the good portion of Mary was her choice to be with Jesus at first and was not distracted or dissuaded by things around her. Mostly, we misplace our priorities and essentials of life. We forget what God wants from us and we do what we want from God. Today, we need to understand that God wants us to give him first place and the rest of the things will be in its own places.

Pope Leo very beautifully says, “We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: look to Christ! Draw near to Him! Welcome His Word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to His proposal of love, so we may become His one family: in the one Christ, we are one.” Yes, the moment we choose to listen to Jesus and be with him, we obtain his consolation and comfort that gives us warmth and healing for our lives. Let us then listen to Jesus and be united to Him always by the proposal of love he offers us freely and lovingly.

Respond:

Do we recognize God’s presence both in significant and insignificant events or persons or times in life?

Do we make efforts to promote the Gospel of Christ even to the extent of sufferings and pains in life?

Do we focus on the primary act of setting priority to God in life or secondary aspects of life that’s only additional to beautify life?

Let us set our priority in God by recognizing God’s presence in all, make efforts to spread the Gospel of Christ near and far and focus on the primary act of life to prioritize our lives in God. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!