16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today, we hear two stories of hospitality.
In our reading, Abraham saw God and two others coming towards his tent. He brought them water to wash their feet and then prepared some food with his wife, Sarah. God told Abraham that Sarah will have a son by next spring before He comes again.
In our Gospel, Martha invites Jesus to her home. While Martha is busy preparing a meal for Jesus, her sister, Mary, sits in front of Jesus and listens to him. Martha is upset that she is left to do all the work and asks Jesus to convince Mary to help. "Martha, Martha, you are letting too many things bother you! There is only one thing that is really necessary. Mary has chosen to listen to me, and that's more important than anything else." What would you do if Jesus came to your house?
Special Saint/Feast Day: St. Camillus de Lellis – July 18
Camillus de Lellis was born in Naples, Italy in 1550. As a young man, he enlisted in the army and developed a gambling problem which left him poor by 24 years.
He wanted to change his life so he entered the Capuchin Order in Naples. Camillus could not stay with the Order because of a leg injury which could not be cured.
He began to take care of the sick in Rome and became the director of the hospital of St. James.
Fr. Philip was a very holy priest in Rome and he helped Camillus to become a priest. Once ordained, Father Camillus decided to start a religious group (the Camellians) devoted to caring for the sick, They worked in hospitals in Rome and Naples and helped plague victims on board ships in the harbors of Rome. They risked their own lives to bring comfort and hope to people suffering from contagious diseases. They worked in the first medical unit on a battlefield.
Camillus de Lellis died in Rome in 1614 after a long illness. He was named patron saint of the sick and patron of nurses.
St. Camillus wanted to serve God, but his first idea did not work out. He let himself be led by the will of God, and fulfilled his dream of being a priest. If we remain open to loving God and serving him in others, God will work out his special plan in our lives.