Fr. John Ryan

 

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

22nd JULY

Hospitality is often seen as the main theme of today's first reading from the book of Genesis. We are told that 'Abraham looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. 'My Lord,' he said, 'I beg you, if I find favour with you, do not pass your servant by.' We can see the theme of hospitality very clearly here. Abraham welcomes the guests with open arms and provides for their needs. But there is more than just hospitality at play here.
When we read the passage closely we encounter a number of interesting points that can draw us into deeper reflection. On extending his hospitality we are told that Abraham bows to the ground - is this the norm for greeting strangers or is there more to it than a simple encounter between Abraham and a group of travellers? We have no indication of Abraham asking who these three are - yet he greets them as extremely important people. Does Abraham recognise them as special unique visitors? Does he realise that there is more to this encounter than just a stopover by unknown passers-by?
Within the passage there are a number of inconsistencies of language. There are three visitors - yet Abraham addresses them as 'My Lord', in the singular. Why does he do this? Has one of the group placed himself in a prominent position and therefore become the focus of Abraham's greeting? Yet, throughout the passage there is a return to this singular form of address. Are we dealing here with something more than a visit of human travellers? Are we presented here with a visit by messengers of God? Or are we dealing with God himself in some way? Some commentators would suggest that it is God together with two of his messengers (his angels), others see in the passage the presence of the Trinity - the three persons, but addressed as My Lord, the One God.
Can we see in this visit the divine presence? Judging by the conclusion, the prophetic statement regarding Sarah having a child, we can say yes. Abraham, friend of God, enjoys the presence of God and his favour. The encounter Abraham has sees his hospitality extended to strangers but opening up to the divine. Welcoming, whether it be knowingly or not, the divine he opens himself to the grace of God working in his life.
It can show us that in our own hospitality we open up the possibility of encountering the divine. We may find in our reaching out to others that we meet, through them, God himself and come to learn his will for us. In hospitality we open ourselves up to hear the voice of God and to see his face. No matter who we welcome into our homes, into our company we are challenged to see God in them. To see the face of Jesus in all we meet allows us to experience God in the world and allows the other, the one welcomed, to bring God into the world. Because of this we should embrace the possibilities of hospitality with open arms and see in it not just a nice thing to do but a highly spiritual action - a kingdom moment.