Walking with Jesus: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, July 20, 2025

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


In today's readings there are many themes leading us in different areas of reflection, but I believe they focus our attention on what it means to be a follower of Jesus — what it means for ME to be a Christian in today’s world, here and now. Jesus promised heaven for each one of His followers and every person created, so Heaven is my ultimate goal. How do I get there? By having faith … believing … living the commandments, especially Jesus’ love commands. We complicate so many things but the readings call us to the basics: Knowing God loves us all the time helps us live love with His help — forgiving; being kind, compassionate and grateful; and letting the Lord live in our lives. How am I doing with these today? How do the scripture examples help each of us? We look to the readings to reflect on them.

A short history on the origins of Israel’s ancestors:

Moses describes God’s creation activities and the Old Testament continues with stories establishing the special relationship that the Israelites have with the Lord: “It emphases its distinctiveness in comparison to Israel’s neighboring nations. In each of the first three generations, God chooses Israel’s ancestor rather than someone else by choosing three patriarchs, each of whom is associated with a people who play an important role in Israel’s subsequent story. Abraham has a nephew, Lot, who fathers both the Ammonites and Moabites … Jacob has a brother, Esau, who fathers the Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites. The Edomites were nations east of the Jordan and were often in conflict with Israelites. Isaac was a half-brother to Isabel, the son of the Egyptian Hagar. From the name Ishmael comes the term Ishmaelite which refers broadly to Bedouin or desert Arabs. One of these brings Joseph to Egypt after he is sold by his brothers. The Lord’s covenant includes three promises to Abraham: to make of him a great nation … to bless him, and to give him the land of Canaan.” [From “The Bible in the Lectionary” by Eileen Schuller, The Catholic Study Bible Third Edition, p. 126]

These stories are a part of our Christian heritage. They all point out that God is love, created out of love, and that God has established an everlasting covenant that requires obedient trust and, as a sign of the covenant, the enactment of infant circumcision. Abraham’s heroic trust and obedience become a model and inspiration for all of Israel and us. And the Joseph narrative makes definitively clear that obedience to God includes caring for one another. A meditation for us: Trust in God involves becoming more and more willing to let go of one’s own expectations. Do I? Is life all about me or is it about God’s love and the need for me to love and trust?

Paul brings us back to the reflection on Abraham and Sarah who are “obliged” by the unwritten cultural law of hospitality to welcome all visitors. Astounded the mention of a promised son, Abraham recognizes the divine identity of their guests. God totally surprises them, and the magnitude of God’s surprise to Paul permeates the Colossians readings and each of us. Reflect on this. Paul writes that through his ministry, God has worked to reveal the “mystery hidden from ages” [Colossians 1:26] and “the riches of His glory” [Colossians 1:27], which includes that “Christ is in you.” [Colossians 1:27] I understand that the Colossians are tempted to seek divine mystery in exalted places, but as Paul states so perfectly to them and to you and me, the divine presence is in and among all of us. Am I living this? Just how do I do it? Do I ask God for help?

First of all, take serious consideration as a Christian how in Luke’s Gospel women play a prominent part. Jesus accepts the invitation to a woman’s home. Mary adopts the posture of disciple before the master by sitting at Jesus’ feet; Martha assumes the role of many women in their homes, dedicating herself to hospitality and preparing the meal. Now we cannot lose sight that this parable comes right after the Good Samaritan. Martha attends to the needs of others and Jesus neither praises nor condemns her: rather, He challenges her to consider her priorities. Even though loving service to others is at the heart of the Christian life, so also is our personal love of Jesus. Now the concept of an “active and contemplative life” does not exist in Luke’s time. But what does exist is Jesus teaching about hearing the word of God and acting on it. One more reflection can be gained from Luke 8:19-21 and Luke 11:27-28 (occurring before and after todays’ passage about Jesus’ mother and brothers standing outside and wanting to see Jesus): Jesus is asked whom he considers to be his mother and brothers. He replies, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” 

So I reflect on:

• The gospels show me that I can be as close and intimate with Jesus as His mother and brothers. Am I … am I afraid to approach Him? Why? He’s with me already. Right?
• The “one thing” that is required of any of us disciples — you and — besides being ministering tutors, we need to listen to Jesus — be still, listen, learn from Him: Love!

Sacred Space 2025 states:

“In St. John’s Gospel we read that Jesus loved Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus, and He was a familiar visitor to their home. Theirs was a home of faith, where they recognized Jesus as One sent by God, and they made Him welcome. Martha helped with the material cup of tea, but Mary had a different call as she sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to Him. In our own lives we can follow the example of both sisters by being contemplatives in action.”