20 July 2025 #soulcare

Last week, we heard Moses urging his people to heed God’s guidance and Jesus teaching us to pause and minister to those around us, as illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Today, we explore how these lessons manifest through the lens of hospitality. Abraham, Martha, and Mary each welcome a significant guest into their homes: God the Father for Abraham and God the Son for Martha and Mary.

If you’ve attended Women’s Bible Study and we’ve discussed the drama of Martha and Mary, you know my perspective: Martha fails to privately address her concerns with Mary, rudely interrupts Jesus while He speaks to the gathered crowd, and tries to embarrass her sister. Her actions, driven by a desire to appear virtuous, create a spectacle. Unfortunately, her behavior is forever remembered as a cautionary tale. (Read the story of Lazarus’ resurrection in John 11:17ff to see if Martha learned her lesson.) True hospitality isn’t about showcasing our efforts; it’s about making others feel welcome and at ease in our presence. Only then can the Good News be heard and embraced.

So, does Jesus feel comfortable in the “soul-home” you’ve prepared for Him? When Jesus arrives each Sunday, ready to enter your heart, have you created a hospitable environment for Him to dwell and unleash the Holy Spirit? Personally, my soul-home could use some work—often more than I’d like to admit. If yours could too, let’s look to Abraham for three spiritual tips to prepare our hearts for Jesus.

1. Preparation: Abraham sees the holy visitors and eagerly runs to greet them. How do you prepare your soul for worship? What attitude do you bring to others and to Jesus? I often tell young parents in our Baptism class, “I used to say to my kids on Sunday mornings in a demanding tone, ‘Get up! Get dressed! Hurry up! No fighting! We have to go to church.’ What if I had changed my tone to a joyful one: ‘Wake up! Get dressed! Hurry! No fighting! We get to see Jesus today!’” Approach Mass with excitement and anticipation.

2. Offering: Abraham immediately offers his guests water, rest, and food—everything he has. What do you offer Jesus when you see Him in the tabernacle before the Feast? Do you bring everything—your joys, hopes, struggles, and setbacks? Jesus wants it all. Bring your whole self to Him. Stewardship isn’t just about finances; it’s a mindset of offering all you are.

3. Engage Others: Abraham enlists Sarah and the servants to help prepare the feast, recognizing he can’t do it alone. Likewise, we need others to help prepare our soul-home—friends who share and strengthen our faith. Surround yourself with faith-filled companions who encourage you on your journey toward Jesus.

There you have it: three ways to prepare your soul-home for Jesus’ visit. If we embrace these practices, like Sarah, who was rewarded with the deepest desire of her heart, we too may receive ours.

#soulcare