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Sunday, July 22, 2001

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16th Sunday Ordinary Time


Genesis 18:1-10
Colossians 1:24-28
Psalm 15
Luke 10:38-42

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"the greatest thing in all my life..."

"Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to Him." —Luke 10:40

One of the greatest things a human being can do is to offer hospitality. When Abraham and Sarah offered hospitality, they entertained God and angels (Heb 13:2), who revealed to Abraham that his wife Sarah would miraculously have her first child at the age of ninety (Gn 18:2ff). Jesus even gave us His body and blood in the context of the hospitality of the Last Supper. To qualify as a Christian leader, a person must be hospitable (1 Tm 3:2). Therefore, Martha's hospitality was a great work of God.

Nevertheless, some things are even greater than the greatness of hospitality. To be a disciple, to sit at the Lord's feet and listen to His words (Lk 10:39), is so great that the risen and ascending Jesus commanded all His disciples to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). This command is often and rightly called "the Great Commission." Discipleship is the essence of God's plan. It is our greatest privilege and responsibility to be and make disciples of the Lord. We were baptized into discipleship (Mt 28:19).

Renew your Baptism. Deny yourself, take up your crosses daily, lose your life (Lk 9:23-24), and be a disciple of the Lord.

Prayer:  Father, may I live and die in imitation of Jesus (see Phil 3:10).

Promise:  "Even now I find my joy in the suffering I endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His body, the Church." —Col 1:24

Praise:  Praise the risen Jesus, Master of His disciples!

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, January 4, 2001


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 24, 2001