Homily – 16th Sunday Ordinary Time (C)

Recently I travelled to Mansfield for a retreat. Mansfield isn’t an obvious choice for people to retreat to, apart from a brief visit on their way to the ski slopes of Mt. Buller. Going by the visitors sign-in book its profile has been raised thanks to the Archdiocese promoting it as a place of pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year. The local church St Francis Xavier sits just away from the town centre in a little street. Many generations have called this church their place to connect with the wider community in a spiritual and social sense. Two large wooden boards sit in the foyer with names of priests and parishioners going back as far as its 150-year history.

My host for this mini retreat was the local priest. He is a true local, known to even non-parishioners and other church denominations. He showed me his name in the local newspaper after a recent funeral service as we were waiting for coffee. Small towns have this kind of effect.

After my retreat, whenever I think of Mansfield, I think of hospitality, not in the sense of food and drink, though, those things mattered too. The parish priest’s attentiveness to guests really left a deep impression on me. What filled my heart was the sharing of all the joys and challenges of ministry in such an open manner. It was so refreshing. Perhaps its one’s character or the character of the town that has formed the person.

As Christians, our rule of life is the Great Commandment – love of God and love of neighbour. Last Sunday’s Gospel, being a neighbour was exemplified by the Good Samaritan. This Sunday, love of God is expressed through friendship. These stories broaden our understanding of hospitality; attention given to the injured, attention given to the guest. As a guest and a friend, Jesus desires our company more than anything else. Company is presence through listening, talking and interiorising. I find it helpful contemplating on a text written by someone of ancient times or of today that brings us closer to God in mind, spirit and heart.

By Fr Hoang Dinh