You may be feeding angels!

Recently I was at the home of parishioners for dinner, we were sitting in the back yard sharing stories, and their younger daughter offered me a tomato as she picked it off the plant that was next to us.



The smell of the plant and fresh picked tomato reminded me of a when I was a youngster and loved to be in my grandpa’s summer garden filled with all those earthly smells and sights, grape arbors, corn, tomatoes, and every kind of vegetable that would grow in the Lake Michigan rich soil. One of the real joys was when my grandpa would pick a tomato for me and we would sit side-by-side under the grape arbor. A saltshaker would magically appear from under his handkerchief for our fresh pick and together we would make slurping yummy sounds. Often on those summer days men in dirty tattered clothes would come-by and grandpa would call out to grandma. She would feed them and prepare food for them to take with them--including freshly picked tomatoes and cucumbers—my job. 



Some of the men would tip their hats and say thank you and offer a toothless smile, I used to think they must have forgotten their teeth in the cup by the bed like my grandpa often did. Back then homeless men were called “hoboes” and traveled by Pullman railroad cars that were manufactured in my Indiana hometown. The hoboes traveled from town to town and state-to-state according to the season, some chose the life, others because of no work—Indiana was on their spring and summer stop, then they would make the trek down South for the winter months. I asked my grandma who they were and why she and grandpa, would always feed them. She said she didn’t know, wave her arm over the lush garden and say that all of this is a blessing from God that we are to share even with strangers for you never know when you will be feeding one of God’s angels or even Jesus.



Feeding angels and the Lord-- a reflection of the sacredness of hospitality-- is one of the themes in our readings for this Sunday. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham welcomes the divine strangers who proclaim the impossible to him and his wife Sarah, now in their 80’s, --they will have a son! Shocking news, can you imagine what the couple thought, isn’t it understandable that Sarah even laughed at this promise from God. 



There is also the very familiar challenge of hospitality in the Martha and Mary scene with Jesus — the obvious theme of contemplating or meditating at the feet of Jesus, clinging to his every word often portrayed as the virtuous choice. Whereas being busy and darting about in service can be a costly choice—we can disconnect—lose our way.



We need the balance of the two choices, the virtues of both Martha and Mary, to provide us peace. Discipleship is rooted in a need for us to take time out and offer welcoming hospitality to God quietly listening for God’s presence within us. But discipleship also includes work, the deeds we must undertake as we act on the voice of God within us—to help serve others. 



The Buddhists say something like: “After enlightenment come the dishes.” Even the most contemplative monks and cloistered nuns have to plant, clean, sharing their blessings and feed the hungry who knock at their door.



We know that we are to be both listeners and doers of Jesus’ word—that is why we are here. However, I would guess that for most of us it is not the contemplative or listening side of discipleship that is in danger of taking over our lives. It is having the discipline of Mary that needs more of our attention. For sometimes life can be a hit and run pace for all of us, just try and remember the last time you just sat in silence and listened, if not directly for the voice of God, but listened attentively to the voice of a family member, friend or co-worker.



How do we develop such a listening sense and sit at the feet of Jesus truly hearing his life lessons and then live them in the so called real world? Hosting quiet prayer time as you pause to remember the many gifts of love that come from Jesus—

· or reflecting on the readings for the day or the coming Sunday.

· time in the Blessed Sacrament Adoration chapel sitting at the feet of the Lord in prayer and welcome.

· picking up one of the CD’s from the kiosk in the narthex

· coming to daily Mass, maybe on your lunch break

· others host quiet prayer while driving to and from work—keeping calm and not raise their voice or make any angry hand jesters.