Welcoming God Inside

Scripture Reflections for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C, Lectionary 108


Are we attentive, like Abraham, to our neighbors around us? Are we welcoming God into our homes and giving our attention over to the divine? Or do we put all our concern on our fears, worries, and aspirations while ignoring Jesus' teaching and guidance? May we find time to sit at Christ's feet and hold God first in our lives.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: AbrahamCareCommunityContemplateCovenantCrossDiscipleDistractionEncounterEvangelizeFaithFocusFriendshipGiftGiveHospitalityJourneyListenLoveMarthaMealPaulPeacePraisePrayerPriorityRelationshipRestRevelationShareSightSufferingTeresa of AvilaWelcomeWomenWorry

Genesis 18:1-10
Psalm 15:2-5
Colossians 1:24-28
Catholic Productions

“Christ intended for the afflictions that he experienced and endured on Calvary, on Good Friday, and this is the mystery, to continue in his mystical body that is the Church on earth. And if that seems mysterious, you're right. That's why Paul calls it a musterion.”


Brant Pitre in "St. Paul and the Mysticism of Suffering" (August 10, 2022)
Luke 10:38-42
Catholic Women Preach

“I learned that hospitality is more than preparing a meal, it's an act of love, welcoming the stranger, breaking bread, and finding a place for everyone at the table. This is the way Jesus taught us to live.”


Stacy Theresa Geere (July 20, 2025)
New
Bellarmine Chapel

“the world is going to tell us, our Church is going to tell us where we should place women in our vicinity, where women stand or sit or what they do. It is society that tells us that. But it is our gospel that reminds us that it is everyone who sits at the feet of Jesus.”


Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ (July 20, 2025)
New
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA

“If we don't bring Jesus into the discussion then the question Martha poses to Jesus is that same question God is posing to us. The Lord says, 'Yes, I care. Do you?'”


Fr. Oscar Pratt (July 20, 2025)
New
UACatholic

“For contemplation without action is highly problematic. For contemplation allows you and I to sit in present moments with all that challenges and blesses our lives. It allows you and I to find our breath when we have had the wind knocked out of us and to feel God present within.”


Fr. John Paul Forté, OP (July 17, 2022)
U.S. Catholic magazine

“We all get stuck like Martha periodically...her experience is a prayer we too could use: 'Lord, if my perspective about this person or this situation is mistaken, please let me know. Point me in a better direction. Help me to see as you see.'”


Ellie Hidalgo (July 08, 2022)

“If we are trying to be kind to someone the first step we need to take is to listen and to see into the heart of the person we desire to help, to forget our own plans, to forget our agenda and then to identity the person's needs”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (July 11, 2022)
Catholic Productions

“So, in this case here, it's the service that Martha's providing is leading her to two problems: namely to be distracted and to be worried or to be anxious. And that's what Jesus, so to speak, rebukes her for.”


Brant Pitre in "Martha and Mary"
Catholic Women Preach

“if you study medieval paintings of Martha, paintings from Italy and France and Germany from the 13th to the 16th century you will see...these artists portray Martha as a dragon slayer. The feminine version of St. George.”


Susan Fleming McGurgan (July 17, 2022)
Overall Readings

“But it is not enough just to do good things for others, however important that may be. Disciples of Jesus must also be inspired and nourished by sitting at the feet of Jesus, allowing his word to form, inform, reform and transform us.”


Fr. Geoffrey Plant in "Siting at the Lord’s feet" (July 13, 2025)
New

“We too may have full schedules, overflowing calendars, stable incomes and high level connections, but we are always in need of grace, community and love”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (July 14, 2025)
New
U.S. Catholic magazine

“Let us thank Mary and Martha...for modeling the significance of hospitality and discipleship for all Christians, not just women. There's no need for sibling rivalry.”


Heidi Schlumpf (July 14, 2025)
New
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“You can serve, you can work hard like Abraham did but if you have a peaceful heart you're in the right place...you can sit and rest but if you don't have a peaceful heart, if you have a heart of anxiety and worry then you have a Martha heart...It's not about action versus contemplation, it's about where your heart is.”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ in "Mary, Martha, and Lazarus" (July 17, 2022)

“if you are a people who focus on praising God you'll be able to see the many blessing that God is sending your way even in the midst of the mess each and every day”


Fr. Tony Ricard (July 17, 2022)
Catholic Women Preach

“I invite you to be part of this hospitality. Embracing the immigrants, embracing the people who doesn't have any voice, we can be the voice for them. Embrace our neighbors and at last we need to embrace our family and embrace ourselves”


Lupita Vital Cruz (July 12, 2019)
St. Teresa of Avila - DC

“if Jesus Christ is in your life, if you know the Lord Jesus as your Lord and savior, if he's your best friend, if you listen to him, if you make time for him, then there is nothing to be worried about”


Monsignor Raymond East (July 17, 2022)
GatherClip

“when we ourselves encounter our neighbors, our guests, are we seeing the divine in them?”


Alex in "Recognizing & Receiving the Gift of God" (July 16, 2022)