16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Some of us seem to have the urge to do lots of things in church. Some seem to have the need to be involved in many different ministries, and help out in many different projects and activities, thinking that without their help or involvement, the ministry, project or activity may collapse or be less successful. But is being Christian only about doing, doing and doing?

In today's Gospel, we come across two sisters who had contrasting views about what doing and being is all about. Martha had been working very hard to make Jesus feel welcomed in her home. She's the sort of person who cannot sit down and must always be working because there is always someone to take care of or some task to be completed. She's doing her very best thinking that that her very best is what the Lord wants of her. But it's not what Martha can do that matters. What really matters is what Jesus can do for her. And this is what Mary had allowed Jesus to do. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, which to some may seem to be useless and doing nothing. But she was actually allowing Jesus to be Jesus, as her Teacher, as her Guide, and as her Lord. Likewise, in the first reading, Abraham thought that he was extending hospitality to the three men, not knowing that God was in his midst. He thought that he was doing his guests a favour by being hospitable, but it would be his guest, God, who would be doing a favour for him. Abraham, who had been childless for so many years, would now have a child, a gift from God.

We sometimes forget that God invites us to participate in His work of salvation. Whatever our contribution, it is always still God’s work, not ours, and we should not be taking credit for all the people that we've helped, since God has chosen us as His instruments to help them. If we fail to recognise this, then we would be building our own kingdom rather than God's kingdom. This is why St. Paul in the second reading can speak with such hope and joy, because he realises that he is only a servant of God, and merely one small piece in that whole plan of God for the salvation of mankind. Ultimately, Paul knew that all that he had been doing is for the glory of God.

What about us? Are we still focused in only doing things for God, without spending time being with Him and listening to His promptings? Are we doing things to show how great, clever, capable or important we are, or have we learnt to give God the glory for all that we do? Let us always remember that we are not the master but merely servants, and that we are building God's kingdom, not our own.