So, there are a few truths that I have decided will never change. First, the NSA will always know where I am, what wrongs I have committed, and what I am doing now. Secondly, Alexa will always record things that I do in my bedroom; let’s just leave it at that! And, if Alexa compares her list with the NSA, the NSA will know who holds the real power of surveillance! And, on a more serious note, I know the one thing that will always mark a true Christian is when one follows our Christ. It is a Jesus-centered Christianity, in all its illogical mandates that is requires, and the inordinate amounts of self-sacrificial love — to the point of being absurd: absurdly gracious, absurdly welcoming to everyone, absurdly hospitable,absurdly kind, absurdly patient, absurdly peaceful, absurdly self-controlled, and absurdly giving. And doing all of this — following the absurdly One Jesus — is yes, absurdly hard.
In today’s gospel lesson, Martha, rushes around trying to make sure everything is so perfect like some first century Martha Stewart. She is focused on the food, the house, the drink. Martha seems to be doing for others and at first glance Martha is just being a conscientious hostess. But a deeper reading reveals that Martha is really only concerned with herself. How does her house look? How does her food taste? How are herwines being served? Martha is so busy “serving” she completely forgets whom she truly serves. Many who hear this story empathize with Martha’s resentment of her sister; for leaving her to do all the work. But Martha’s distraction and worry leave no room for the most important aspect of hospitality — gracious attention to the guest.
Mary, however, simply sat at Jesus’ feet. She listened to His every word. She attended fully to his words and sat reverently at his feet. While Martha was busy being distracted, Mary was busy being a disciple. Sometimes, even good things can fill up our lives to the point where we neglect our souls. God has not blessed us with our families, friends, jobs, abilities and other gifts to give us an excuse to abandon a close walk with Him. In the end, without God we can do nothing. Martha admitted and welcomed guests into her home. Mary admitted and welcomed the word of the Lord, the Kingdom of God, into her heart.
Jesus gently reminds us here in this lesson that true “hospitality” is never about self. Hospitality is always about giving over your time, your attention, your home, your heart and sometimes, even your life in order to focus on others — those who you welcome and those who needwelcoming. Hospitality is more about room in your heart than the rooms in your home.
This past week, one of my favorite poets died, Andrea Gibson, died at the young age of 49 years old. Gibson, who used the pronouns they/them and did not use an honorific, was a master of spoken-word poetry who cultivated legions of admirers with intensely personal, often political works exploring gender, love and a personal four-year fight with terminal ovarian cancer. One of my favorite quotes from them was this, “In the end, I want my heart to be covered in stretch marks.”
Andrea lived that way and they will always be remembered as having done so.
May each of us live so well, too.
Monsignor +Jim