Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle II) 

📖 Readings:

  • Genesis 18:1-10a

  • Psalm 15:2-5

  • Colossians 1:24-28

  • Luke 10:38-42

✨ Theme:

“The God Who Visits, Listens, and Nourishes”


👋 Introduction

Dear brothers and sisters, our readings today draw our attention to something deeply human and deeply divine: the experience of hospitality. God is not distant—He comes to visit, to speak, and to dwell among His people. The real question is: how do we receive Him? Are we busy with distractions, or attentive to His presence?

😂 Humorous Story

A priest once told this story: “I visited a parishioner and he said, ‘Father, sit down, let me make you tea.’ I sat… and waited… and waited… twenty minutes later, I said, ‘Brother, where is the tea?’ He said, ‘Father, I forgot I invited you—I got busy texting!’”
We laugh, but it reminds us: we can be so busy doing things, we forget Who we are doing it for.

📜 Exegesis and Hermeneutics

✅ Genesis 18:1-10a:
📝 Abraham shows hospitality to three mysterious guests—later revealed as a manifestation of God. The promise of Isaac is given in the context of welcoming strangers, suggesting God’s blessings often come in our moments of generous openness.

✅ Psalm 15:
📝 The psalmist reflects on who can dwell in the Lord’s tent. The answer is simple: those who live with integrity, justice, and truth—qualities reflected in hospitality.

✅ Colossians 1:24-28:
📝 Paul shares the mystery revealed in Christ: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Suffering becomes meaningful because Christ lives within us, and we are called to make Him known.

✅ Luke 10:38-42:
📝 Martha welcomes Jesus but is anxious about many things; Mary chooses the better part—being present to Jesus, listening at His feet. Jesus affirms that contemplation precedes action.

📖 From Genesis to the Gospel, God reveals Himself through human encounters. True faith involves both welcoming God in others and allowing God to nourish us in His Word.

🪢 Connection of the Readings

  • Abraham’s tent welcomes God and receives life-giving promises.

  • The psalm calls us to integrity in life.

  • Paul shows that suffering is transformed by Christ’s presence within.

  • Luke invites us to prioritize listening to God above all else.

Together, they show us the balance between hospitality of service and hospitality of the heart.

🧩 Reflection Questions

  1. How attentive am I to God’s quiet visits in my daily life?

  2. Do I balance my service (Martha) with time for prayer and listening (Mary)?

  3. How is God calling me to hospitality—both in my home and in my heart?

🕊️ Jubilee Year & Synod on Synodality Reflection

In the Jubilee Year of Hope:

  • We are called to rediscover hospitality, especially to those forgotten or neglected.

  • Hospitality is not just opening homes, but opening hearts—to the stranger, the wounded, and the marginalized.

In the Synod on Synodality:

  • We listen like Mary at the feet of Christ.

  • We walk together like Abraham, welcoming all who pass our way.

  • We recognize “Christ in us”, reconciling and gathering the whole family of God.

🌟 Inspiration & Motivation

Every knock on your door is a chance for grace. Every opportunity to listen is a chance for encounter. The most important guest today might not be your superior, but the quiet voice of Christ in your heart.

📝 Quotes

“Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” — Hebrews 13:2
“You worry about many things, but only one thing is necessary.” — Luke 10:41

💭 Final Thought

Like Abraham, let us welcome; like Mary, let us listen; like Paul, let us reveal Christ in us; and like the psalmist, let us walk in integrity. Then we shall be blessed beyond measure.

✅ Conclusion

Today, let us renew our commitment to a balanced Christian life: service rooted in contemplation, hospitality anchored in prayer, and busyness guided by intimacy with God.

🙏 Concluding Prayer

Lord Jesus, You come to visit me each day—sometimes in the poor, sometimes in prayer, sometimes in silence. Teach me to welcome You with an open heart. Calm my anxieties and teach me the joy of Your presence. In this Jubilee Year and Synodal journey, may I live as a true host of Your Word and a servant of Your people.
Amen.

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