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Psalm110:1,2,3,4
Luke 9:11b-17
Dear friends,
We all have words that trigger thoughts in our heads. We hear them and without any conscious effort, a person, place, conversation or event comes to mind. Sometimes a picture pops up. We have the choice to stay with the thought or the image or dismiss it. A pleasant memory can be a moment of prayerful gratitude, while an unpleasant memory, depending on our mood, might cause us to ruminate and fume all over again, which could also lead to prayer, perhaps for forgiveness.
As I reflected on today’s readings the first word that spoke to me was “priest,” particularly the line in the responsorial psalm, “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.” My uncle is at the end of his life, a long life as he will be ninety-eight in a week. He is a priest who became a bishop, but it is his priestliness that defines him. He responds minimally, if at all, these days but is surrounded by elements of his life from pictures to brieveries. Each reminiscent of his life’s work.
One memory I hold dear is that of a Christmas when he moved to the living room for some quiet to read his prayer book. The festivities continued in another part of the house. At some point I looked toward the living room and there on another couch were two of the grandchildren quietly reading just as he was doing. They were so young, maybe seven or eight, but recognized the moment and entered into it.
He baptized, confirmed, married, and buried countless family, friends, and parishioners over the course of his seventy-four years as a priest; each has a story of his kindness, inclusiveness, and priestly presence. It was his presence that endeared him. His authority as a religious leader to administer sacraments was part of who he was but it was how he went about it that made the difference. It was comfortable. He avoided pomp and circumstance and sought relationships, whether for himself or to bring others together. While he respected rules, they did not limit him. His priesthood was dear to him and it is dear to those who know and love him.
The word that comes to mind with today’s gospel is “hospitality.” As Jesus “spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God, he healed those who needed to be cured.” He also extended hospitality to them. It was Jesus who recognized that as the day was ending the people were hungry. The apostles were aware of this, but their solution was to send the people off to find what they needed on their own. Jesus had another idea and provided more than enough food to satisfy their hunger.
Hospitality is a word that we do not often attribute directly to Jesus, but in scripture, we see him exhibiting hospitality many times. The formal definition of hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, and with the addition of AI notes, it involves creating a welcoming and comfortable environment where people feel valued and cared for.
Bishop Michael Pham, newly appointed to San Diego, is offering the same hospitality Jesus offered in a manner that fits our times. He is showing up at the local courthouse as an advocate for those facing immigration hearings. He was joined by Scott Santarosa, SJ, former provincial of Jesuits West and now a pastor in San Diego.
They reported that masked ICE agents left the building when the priests and leaders of other faith traditions showed up saving those in court from being taken into custody and detained before they were able to access due process under the law. The bishop is going to formalize this ministry and has selected Scott Santarosa to lead the effort. Clergy will accompany those entering the court on immigration issues in San Diego.
In accordance with our mission statement, we support an environment that welcomes people and makes them feel valued and cared for. It is our hope that the ministry Bishop Pham and Fr. Scott Santarosa are creating will expand across the country.
As I was finishing up this message, news broke that the United States had bombed nuclear sites in Iran. Hospitality sounds too simple when bombs are dropping, yet, it is the one thing we can all embrace.
Let us pray for the wisdom of peace over the madness of bombs.
Anne
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