Replies

Saturday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On Abraham, I, 5, 32-35

"Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth"

Abraham “sat in the entrance of his tent while the day was growing hot” (Gen 18,1), Scripture tells us. The others were resting but he kept watch for the possible arrival of guests. He was indeed worthy of God's coming to him by the oak of Mambre, he who sought so eagerly to practise hospitality...

Yes, hospitality is a good thing which has its own special reward: first of all, it attracts men's gratitude; more importantly, it also receives repayment on God's part. All of us in this land of exile are passing guests. For a little while we have a roof to shelter under but we must move out in no time. Take care! If we have been hard or negligent in welcoming strangers then, when the course of this life has passed away, the saints might well refuse to welcome us in their turn. "Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth," says the Lord in the Gospel, "so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."

Besides, how do you know whether it is not God you are receiving while you are thinking that you are only dealing with men? Abraham welcomed some strangers but, in reality, he received into his home God and his angels. So you, too, who welcome a stranger are receiving God. The Lord Jesus bears witness in the Gospel: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25,35.40).