Some years ago, the Senegalese writer Aminata Sow Fall published a powerful novel titled “The Beggars’ Strike.” In it, government officials in an African city decide to rid the streets of beggars, calling them an eyesore, “the dregs of society.” But there is a twist. These same officials suddenly find themselves unable to fulfill their religious obligations because, in their tradition, almsgiving to beggars was required for spiritual blessings. So the beggars go on strike. They vanish. And soon, panic sets in. Those the rich and powerful once deemed useless are now desperately needed. The story concludes with a complete reversal: the beggars, once despised, suddenly become essential yet scarce commodities; the rich and powerful now recognize the beggars as vital to the moral and spiritual well-being of the community.
Today’s First Reading and Gospel Passage focus on hospitality. I will be reflecting on the First reading. In today’s First Reading from Genesis 18:1-10, we meet Abraham, sitting at the entrance to his tent while the day is growing hot. He sees three strangers passing by. He runs to them, bows low, and insists they stop to rest and eat. At this point, Abraham does not know that these men are divine messengers. He offers hospitality out of the goodness of his heart, not expecting anything in return. And what happens? After the meal, one of the visitors says, “I will return to you next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son.” From that simple act of generosity and love, a miracle is born. Abraham and Sarah, who had longed for a child and had given up hope, now have a son as a result of their hospitality to strangers.
There are three lessons we may take home today. First: Nothing that is done in the spirit of love is ever wasted. Abraham had no idea that he was entertaining Angels. He saw them as fellow human beings who had trekked a long distance under the hot sun and needed some rest and food. He did not help them because he hoped to gain anything other than the satisfaction of helping in love. He gave because it was the right thing to do. And God rewarded his hospitality. True generosity always opens us to divine grace.
Second: Nobody is too poor to have nothing to give. Abraham and Sarah had grown old without a child. Some other people would have let themselves be consumed by self-pity and viewed everyone as better than them. But even though Abraham wished he had a son with Sarah, that wish did not blind him to the many other blessings God gave him: a home, food, and a good heart, out of which he was willing to share with strangers. In the novel, The Beggars’ Strike, even the poorest had something to give: their presence, their prayers, and their position as channels of God’s blessings. We, too, may not have money or material wealth, but we have time, kindness, patience, and a listening ear, just like Mary, the sister of Martha, offered to Jesus in today’s Gospel passage.
Third: Nobody is too rich as to need nothing. The three strangers in our first reading were angels. But because they came in human form, they were in need. In spirit, they were rich, but in material terms, they were in need. The powerful officials in the novel The Beggars’ Strike had all the material wealth but no peace and no spiritual fulfillment. We, too, may have full schedules, overflowing calendars, stable incomes, and high-level connections, but we are always in need of grace, community, and love.
At this point, we may ask, “Who are the beggars in our lives? Perhaps they are the coworkers or schoolmates we avoid. Maybe they are the homeless outside the gate. Perhaps they are the foreigners who have escaped inhumane treatments in their homelands, hoping to find love and compassion here. The beggar may be your child who needs just a few minutes of your time to share their thoughts. Maybe they are your elderly parents who long to hear their phones ring and see your name appear on the screen. The beggar may be your spouse, who needs you to value them as a human being, not as a tool. These beggars may seem like interruptions, but remember that God is usually in the interruptions. These interruptions may be invitations from God, just as Abraham’s visitors were.
My dearly beloved in Christ, inspired by Abraham’s example and the tale of the novel, The Beggars’ Strike, let us open our eyes and hearts to see Christ in the stranger and to serve without seeking reward, remembering that in God’s eyes, every act of hospitality echoes into eternity. Amen.
Homily for 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2025
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