Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Fr. Cornelius a Lapide was a Jesuit of the 17th Century who became famous for his scripture commentaries written on almost every book of the bible. His commentaries are rich in scope and in detail, touching on questions of translation and interpretation, including insights from scholars of many centuries, both Christians and Jews.
In Fr. Lapide’s commentary on Genesis 18, today’s first reading at mass, the question is: who are these three mysterious guests with Abraham? Are they human beings? Are they angels? Are they gods? Sometimes, they seem to be human, like when they receive Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality. Sometimes they seem to be angels, like when the Lord speaks through them. Sometimes they seem to be gods, like when Abraham addresses them as “my Lord.”
Fr. Lapide held that these three people were “legates,” that is to say, angels sent from God. They received hospitality from Abraham in order to teach us how to treat guests. They receive adoration from Abraham in order to teach us how to treat God. They are just like the legates of a king, says Fr. Lapide, who receive tribute in place of the king they represent.
In Ignatian spirituality, sometimes God uses the thoughts and images of the retreatant as his legates. The retreatant, with the help of his director, learns how to receive the legates with hospitality, and how to adore the king they represent.