Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Hospitality is a prominent theme in the readings for this Sunday. In the first reading from the book of Genesis, we hear the story of three mysterious strangers who visit Abraham in Mamre and tell him that his wife Sarah will conceive and bear a son. I guess it’s good to be kind to one’s visitors! In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is a guest at the home of Martha and Mary where he is treated to two very different kinds of hospitality. We all learn which type Jesus prefers.
As you know, I have started a few weeks of vacation, where I am spending my time at a New Jersey vacation house which the friars of our province have been blessed to have for more than sixty years. Throughout that time it has been staffed by one or two friars who look after the place. In many ways, it’s a ministry of hospitality, and most of the time we have been treated with great care. One of the recent “curators” – as they are generally referred to – went out of his way to make friars feel welcome and comfortable. The only thing missing was a chocolate on our pillows!
On the other hand, there was once a curator who was a bit less hospitable. The only cookies he stocked in the kitchen were oatmeal raisin. Year after year, nothing but oatmeal raisin! I, being the young smart aleck that I was back then, had the temerity to suggest that he consider getting a different kind of cookie. So, one day, as I was sitting at the kitchen table eating my lunch, he came in and dropped a package of Oreos in front of me. “Here, you better eat all of these,” he grumbled, and walked away. So, a different style of hospitality!
Jesus invites each of us personally to come to him with faith, trust, and confidence that he loves us no matter what. He invites us each week to come together as a family to join in the sacrifice of himself to the Father, which is what the Liturgy of the Eucharist is all about. He asks us to bring all that we are to this weekly celebration and to offer ourselves with him in thanksgiving and joy. In a sense, as he has given himself to us in the greatest act of hospitality, we in turn are called to return that hospitality to one another.
In closing, I wish to express the thanks of our parish to those who exercise the ministry of hospitality, including our Community Sunday teams, our ushers and sacristans at Mass who welcome our parishioners and visitors, and others who help to set up and clean up for our parish events.
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor
Join us at the Beach next Sunday, July 20! Click below for more information and to let us know you’re coming so we can let you know if anything changes due to weather.