Homily 16th Sunday of Year C: Michael U Udoekpo
Readings: Gen 18:1-10a; Ps15:2-3, 3-5; Col 1:24-28 and Luke
10:38-42
Washing the Feet of Our Neighbors
Today we celebrate the 16th
Sunday of Ordinary Season. And with today's beautiful Bible Readings we are being reminded
that God puts each of us in the world to love him, serve him, know him, obey
him and trust in his abiding presence. And when I say all of us,
I mean men, women and children. And we do this best on how we run around, share
our time and talents or even wash our neighbors’ feet, which is a continuation
of the lessons of last Sunday- the importance of reaching out to our neighbors,
no matter where the person comes from, or what he/she looks like ( Luke 10:25-37).
In the Gospel reading of today
(Luke 10:38-42) Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus displayed and shared
their gifts with Jesus who was travelling to Jerusalem. Martha welcomed Jesus (hepodechomai). I am sure If Martha had
spoken English she would politely have said to Jesus, Welcome My Lord Jesus, or Benvenuniti!, in Italian. Or Wilkommen Sie!, were Martha to be German,
or still Bienvenido, Bienvenue in Spanish and French-respectively. Or in
my native Efik/Annang language- Jesus, Obong
mi Emidi! In your different languages we could hear Martha warmly say to Jesus –
My Lord you are welcome!( Luke 10:38). Martha received the travelling Jesus to
their home. She ran around the house serving Jesus, perhaps with food and
drinks!
Mary on the other hand who may
have also helped received Jesus sat at his feet (parakatheszomai/podos),
listening to him (akouō). Sometimes
we take listening for granted. We should not take this for granted. Listening
to one another, being present for one another, taking interest in what our friends,
spouse, children, colleagues, our loved ones and neighbors had to say,
especially in this age of texting and smart phones, is courtesy, its respect,
its charity. It is another way of welcoming that person, and washing the feet
of that neighbor.
The same message is heard in the
first reading, the Book of Genesis (18:1-10a), where Abraham welcomes God, and
the Angels. He washes their feet. Imagine this to be a hot summer dusty day,
about 93 decrees, Abraham saw three traveling men in front of his tent. Like Martha and Mary, he ran (wayya rûṣ) to welcome them and
prostrated with respect before them (wayyisttahû).
He provided them with the water of hospitality to wash their feet (rāhas raglāyim), something Christ would
do to his disciples in John 13:1-15,
a lessons of love and humility in service to one
another, which we reenact on every Holy Thursday. (I am sure you would recalled
that last Holy Thursday, Pope Francis also symbolically included two women
among those he washed their feet). However, Abraham fed the three traveling guests.
After the meal one of them asked for Sarah and promised the barren Sarah a son
that would come to be Isaac, a source of laughter and joy to the family of
Abraham.
We know the times are hard and
difficulty. Remember God works in a mysterious way. He reveals himself in
different forms (Col1:24-28). We might be welcoming angels and God’s blessings
upon our family as well, by the way we “wash our neighbor’s feet,” and by the
way we welcome one another, receive one another, talk to one another, listen to
one another, be patient with one another, give one another a second chance,
provide for one another, pray for one another, reach-out for another, watch one another’s back, and
share our gifts, time and talents with one another.
