Generosity is a theme we see time and again in the Bible, not least the first act of generosity, that of God creating the universe in its staggering beauty and complexity culminating in God entering our world, our humanity, and saving us from ourselves in his son Jesus.

This Sunday we see in the Old Testament one of the best remembered stories in the Bible, that of Abraham, Sarah and the three strangers. In some respects it is merely a classic story commonly seen in a desert culture where strangers are treated well and their needs are met. This custom is still practiced in Arabic desert cultures.

But this particular account has much more to it than the observance of hospitality rules being followed by a reward. The setting, the Oak of Mamre, was a holy place. Instinctively Abraham knows that the three strangers are different, more than mere strangers; Abraham prostrates himself before them, which is what you would do before royalty or divinity. There are three people but he addresses them in the singular – “my Lord”. He seems to offer them what little he has but with Sarah they go to great lengths to offer a feast. The gift given in return by the strangers, or is it the stranger, is the gift of life, the gift of a child. In a sense it is the gift of immortality through the life of successive generations. A miraculous gift, an impossible gift – Abraham was probably 99 and Sarah 90 at the time. A gift for them, which becomes a gift for us too – Jesus in his humanity is a descendent of this encounter. Over a thousand years before the birth of Jesus it is also a prophesy, an insight into the existence of, and the life of, the Holy Trinity.

In Sunday's Gospel we see another arrival. This is not the arrival of a stranger but Jesus at the home of his good friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. As we do when our own friends visit there is a desire to make sure that things are just as they should be. It is clear that Jesus does not expect people to rush around making a fuss. Jesus knows that there is a time in all of our lives for doing things, a time for action, but also a time for contemplation. Today we see him, with care and gentleness, reminding Martha, and us too, not to permit ourselves to be preoccupied by external things; only one thing is required, to sit at the feet of our brother, our friend, our master, and our God, the Lord Jesus, and to listen to him with the ears of our heart and our souls and to respond to his good news – which is our redemption and the opportunity to enter into the divine life of God.

The kingdom of God is very near to us. Be generous in making a still and quiet space for God in your mind, your heart, and your soul he will reward you with his presence. Be still in the presence of the Lord.

As always please be assured of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

Fr Chris