Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 108​

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,

and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ

on behalf of his body, which is the church,

of which I am a minister...

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a systematic spiritual master, explained how repentant sinners pass through a series of transformations. First, by the grace of God, they choose not to commit mortal sins. And then, perhaps realizing their venial sins lead inevitably to mortal sins, they choose not to commit venial sins. Eventually, as they begin to choose the Good, they will avoid "near occasions of sin." (For most of us that laborious course follows the track of our aging and there seems little difference between them. Did I become a better person, or just too old for that stuff?)

Continuing in the way of grace, they make small sacrifices like attending a Sunday service; and then, courteously attend to the needs of others.

Eventually, should they heroically pursue the Way of the Gospel further, they might be called upon to make very great sacrifices cheerfully! Even of life itself, as the martyrs have.

The process does not happen overnight and rarely does anyone run the entire course. Fortunately, not many are called to martyrdom.  A true conversion takes time as grace penetrates more deeply day by day.

A similar path might be  charted for the practice of hospitality, which is celebrated in today's readings. At first we invite only the most desirable people: the safe, comfortable, desirable beautiful, popular, successful, wealthy, and so forth. A lot depends upon our comfort zone. But grace teaches us, in the course of time, to welcome even the least among us. 

This openness, however, is about more than people. It concerns our availability to life itself. We may welcome experiences and adventures, ideas and sensations. 

Our first and third readings of this Sunday describe hospitality to God. Abraham and Sarah welcomed God in the appearance of three angels; Martha and Mary welcomed the Lord Jesus.

And, in the second reading, Saint Paul describes his welcome to the "afflictions of Christ."  He was in prison someplace. This tireless missionary, moving restlessly from city to city, always eager to speak of Jesus to friends, acquaintances, and strangers, was confined for weeks at a time with little more to do than pray and write letters. Eventually the Holy Spirit would arrange for his release and he would move on. In the meanwhile, he filled up in his flesh what was lacking in the afflictions of Christ, on behalf of his body, which is the Church.

Prison was not wasted time for Paul. He believed in what he was doing and was sure that God himself had directed him into the places and moments and relationships that led to his arrest. If God wanted him in prison then he would pray in prison, thanking God all the while. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

On the way to salvation we learn to prefer God's will. My own preferences, desires, whims and wishes have too often led to trouble for me and everyone else. Let me do God's will in God's way and God's time.

This is the hospitality that welcomes whatever may come, including the people who interrupt our set patterns and demand what we cannot afford to give. Anyone who lives very long will face disease, disability and disappointment. The last comes in too many forms to name. I sometimes ask the patients in the VA hospital, "Is this the worse thing that's ever happen to you?" Very often, they remember much worse. I hope that thought actually eases their present suffering. 

The wise man Job declared, "The Lord gives; the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." 

Saint Francis especially taught his disciples to expect and experience hardship and to convert them to prayer. For his trouble, after a long career of fasting, night vigils, hard travel and failure, he was rewarded with the stigmata, a most painful condition which he revealed to no one before he died. 

No one gets to choose their own cross; these are allotted by the Lord himself, according to an inscrutable wisdom. Inevitably we ask, "Why me?" Eventually we ask, "Why not me?" As we accept them graciously, the Holy Spirit reveals them as entries into Eternal Life. Invariably, those who choose this path of life, declare they are much happier than before.