Today's first reading is one of those mysterious Old Testament episodes in which the Holy Trinity is glimpsed, hinted at. The Trinity is only fully revealed in the New Testament, and for good reason. In a world where people worshipped almost anything, God had to make it clear that there was only one God. But once that was done-at least to Israel-he could reveal the Trinity, which he did through Jesus. However, he could still leave some clues along the way and prepare the ground. And that is what we do today.
What is striking in this episode is that because Abraham is generous in showing hospitality to these unknown visitors-or was he just a visitor? - God blesses him with the son he and Sarah had always longed for. The Lord leaves telling him that within a year Sarah will conceive, and so she does. His generosity bore fruit, and the best fruit of all, a human being. In a mysterious way, her generosity gave life to a child. Abraham did not know the Trinity, but unwittingly embraced it.
Today's Gospel also speaks to us of hospitality. Jesus goes to the home of Martha and Mary; Martha is busy serving him and his disciples, while Mary merely sits at his feet to listen to him. When Martha complains about her sister's inactivity, instead of Jesus scolding Mary, it is Martha who receives a loving rebuke.
This episode also tells us about the true nature of hospitality, so important in biblical times and in the ancient world. It was considered sacred. Perhaps we have lost some of that in our busy, individualistic Western world. Perhaps we should be more willing to show hospitality to others, generously, not grudgingly. But hospitality is not just about running around doing lots of things for guests, as Martha did, although that can show a lot of love and affection. it is about recognizing the dignity and worth of the one who has come to visit.
In the New Testament there is a text in the letter to the Hebrews that states: "do not forget hospitality: by it some have unwittingly entertained angels." (Hebrews 13:2). It seems to refer to this episode of Abraham welcoming these three men. Sometimes in the Old Testament it is not clear whether it is God or an angel: God seems to speak through an angel, but ends up being Himself. When we welcome others, we are welcoming angels, or even God. Jesus told us: "every time you did it to one of these, my least brothers and sisters, you did it to me.".
The reason he scolded Martha was that she did not really realize whom she had at home. She did not realize, at least not yet, that God himself had come to her house in human form. But perhaps Mary did, and that is why she sat down to listen to Him. She knew He had words of eternal life. She knew that nothing she could do for Christ could compare with what He was giving her in His teachings. True hospitality consists in appreciating the dignity of the visitor and that, in every visitor, we are visited by Jesus, our Lord and God.
