by Danielle Shroyer
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a
For Sunday, July 21, 2013: Year C—Lectionary 16
I’m not sure why this story of Abraham being visited by three men (who, we are told, are the presence of God) is told on the same Sunday as the Mary and Martha fight. But one thing seems clear: this hospitality business is hard work.
Hospitality Bombed
Abraham is resting under the oak trees when these three men appear out of nowhere. As was customary, Abraham goes out of his way to welcome them. He ran toward them, bowed down, and offered them water for their feet, food and drink for their stomachs, and rest in the shade. And, since they agree to stay, Abraham rushes to tell Sarah to whip up some cakes, and then he runs to the field, chooses a calf, and gives it to his servant to prepare.
Abraham is running all over the place in this passage. Just look at the verbs! Ran, hastened, make ready. The whole house is abuzz with activity. That’s what happens when you get hospitality bombed.
Double Standard?
Abraham’s house seems as busy as Martha and Mary’s house, though the ladies had far more guests land on their doorstep. And yet, the three men (who represent the Lord) don’t seem to be bothered by Abraham’s running around like a chicken with his head cut off. They are doing just fine, relaxing under the oak trees, being waited on hand and foot.
You’ll find no presence parable here.
What’s that about? Is it okay for men to rush around, distracted, hastening this way and that? It’s okay for Abraham to tell Sarah to get in there and help him, and for the servant to get a move on with that calf for dinner, but Martha can’t ask her sister to pitch in a hand for a few minutes?
One Task at a Time
When the meal is complete, Abraham set it before his guests, and he stood beside them while they ate. Now that all is arranged, Abraham has no problem being present to his guests. And that’s what leads to this conversation where he hears what will become huge news for the unfolding story of Scripture: he and Sarah will conceive and bear a son, at last.
It makes me wonder if presence is acceptable even in stages. Sometimes, we rush around to get things done so that we can be present at the table. Sometimes presence is a product of our busy action. It makes me wonder if Martha was distracted once dinner was set. Surely she spent some time listening to her guests and her Messiah that night, too.
Whose News?
But while I’m at it, why does all of the good news about Sarah conceiving a child never come to Sarah herself? Why does Abraham hear all of it? Is he the one mourning and crying about a barren womb?
It had to have been hard to be Sarah...clearly. Maybe if she had been included in some of these huge news flashes she wouldn’t have been so intent on taking things into her own hands. Maybe if she didn’t have to hear about her impending pregnancy through eavesdropping she wouldn’t have laughed.
The Hardest Question
It seems as if this story of hospitality and busyness and presence is much more healthy than the Martha and Mary showdown. Why do we think that is? Why isn’t Abraham criticized for his distracted meal preparations?
I’m hoping it’s not because everybody loves a good cat fight. I’ve about had enough with the cult of female competition. Haven’t you?
Danielle Shroyer is the Pastor of Journey Church in Dallas, TX. She is the author of The Boundary-Breaking God: An Unfolding Story of Hope and Promise (Jossey-Bass, 2009) and blogs at www.danielleshroyer.com. Danielle lives with her husband, two children, and two wild and crazy dogs in Dallas.
