I recently read a sermon by St. Augustine on St. Martha. After I read through it the first time, nothing in particular jumped out at me but I felt a very slight sense of unease about some aspect of the reading but I could not discern the sourece of my discomfort. Experience has recently taught me that if something makes me uncomforable, I best not ignore it. In my world, spiritual growth from being challenged. So I read the sermon again and then again for the third time. Finally the source of my unease jumped out at me.

Here is what St. Augustine wrote that caused my discomfort: “Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take this privilege from you. As he says: Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me.”

And there it was. The challenge to step out myself and look an aspect of my life that I have not much thought about: hospitality. Martha was a gracious and grateful hostess but her guest was the most important invididual in history. While Jesus has never knocked at my door, many other people have done so in the past. What kind of host was I? Would Benedict feel that we have lived up the spirit of the rule by welcoming visitors? The answer, I fear, would be no. So now it is up to me to rise to the challenge to be a welcoming, gracious and generous host and not just when it is convenient for me. Can I learn to see the face of God in all who call at my door?

Pray that we can all learn to welcome the least of our brothers as if they were Son of God.

Peace be with you.