Daily Readings - Sun Jul 21 2019

¹Then the Lord appeared to him, in the steep valley of Mamre, when he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day²And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men, standing near him. When he had seen them, he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and he reverenced them on the ground³And he said: "If I, O lord, have found grace in your eyes, do not pass by your servant⁴But I will bring a little water, and you may wash your feet and rest under the tree⁵And I will set out a meal of bread, so that you may strengthen your heart; after this you will pass on. It is for this reason that you have turned aside to your servant." And they said, "Do as you have spoken.⁶Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and he said to her, "Quickly, mix together three measures of the finest wheat flour and make loaves baked under the ashes.⁷In truth, he himself ran to the herd, and he took a calf from there, very tender and very good, and he gave it to a servant, who hurried and boiled it⁸Likewise, he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and he placed it before them. Yet truly, he himself stood near them under the tree⁹And when they had eaten, they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He answered, "Behold, she is in the tent.¹⁰And he said to him, "When returning, I will come to you at this time, with life as a companion, and your wife Sarah will have a son." Hearing this, Sarah laughed behind the door of the tent

Colossians

Chapter 1

²⁴For now I rejoice in my passion on your behalf, and I complete in my flesh the things that are lacking in the Passion of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the Church²⁵For I have become a minister of the Church, according to the dispensation of God that has been given to me among you, so that I may fulfill the Word of God²⁶the mystery which had remained hidden to past ages and generations, but which now is manifested to his saints²⁷To them, God willed to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ and the hope of his glory within you²⁸We are announcing him, correcting every man and teaching every man, with all wisdom, so that we may offer every man perfect in Christ Jesus

Luke

Chapter 10

³⁸Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home³⁹And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word⁴⁰Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.⁴¹And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things⁴²And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about faith, hospitality, and the balance between action and contemplation. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Abraham’s encounter with three mysterious visitors. Abraham’s immediate response is one of hospitality—he rushes to welcome them, offers them rest and food, and serves them with generosity. This passage highlights Abraham’s deep faith and trust in God, as well as his openness to the divine presence in unexpected forms. It also foreshadows the announcement that Sarah, despite her advanced age, will bear a son, emphasizing God’s promise and the miraculous nature of faith. The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to the missionary work of St. Paul. Paul describes his sufferings as a way of completing what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, emphasizing his role as a servant of the Church. He speaks of the mystery of Christ, once hidden but now revealed to all people, and the hope of glory that comes from knowing and following Christ. This passage reminds us that our faith is not just a personal relationship but also a call to share the Good News with others, even in the face of challenges and sacrifices. In the Gospel, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, and we see two very different responses to his presence. Martha is consumed by busyness, trying to serve Jesus in a practical way, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words. Jesus gently corrects Martha, saying that Mary has chosen the “better part.” This passage teaches us that while service and action are important, they must flow from a deeper relationship with Christ. It invites us to cultivate a balance between doing and being, between activity and contemplation. These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Abraham, we are called to be hospitable and open to God’s presence, even in unexpected ways. Like Paul, we are called to share the mystery of Christ with others, even when it requires sacrifice. And like Mary, we are called to prioritize time with the Lord, listening to his word and deepening our relationship with him. In a world that often values busyness and productivity, these readings remind us that true fulfillment comes from putting God first and trusting in his promises. Let us strive to live with hearts open to God, minds attentive to his word, and hands ready to serve others in love.