17 July 2022 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
From Genesis 18:1-10, NRSV
Although Abraham has been repeatedly promised and reassured by God that he would have a son with his wife Sarah, this had not yet happened. We hear today about Abraham providing hospitality to three “strangers” who arrived at his tent during the hottest part of the day. The hospitality he offered far exceeded what strangers would have had the right to expect. Abraham’s generous hospitality is matched in the promise made by one of the strangers. Abraham is given a further promise that he and Sarah will have a child before the next year when he will receive a further visit.
- What do you think prompted Abraham to offer generous hospitality to these strangers?
- Where are we called to be generous in offering hospitality?
Be aware today of how you interact with “strangers” and of the difference your hospitality could make.
Image – Trinity Icon – Andrei Rublev (Wikimedia)
