[RCL] Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Here’s a trick question: Are you a Mary or a Martha? If you have ever spent time hearing interpretations of today’s gospel passage, you probably understand the dichotomy implicit in the question. Martha, we often say, is the “active” one, rushing around, busying herself with the…

Hospitality was an important aspect of life for Abraham and his descendants. Life in the tents of that nomadic people required a gracious response to travelers and a reputation for providing a generous welcome for them was highly prized. Note how carefully the writer of Genesis details Abraham’s response to the appearance of visitors as…