Daily Readings - Sat Jun 26 2021
Genesis
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 tent11Now they were both old, and in an advanced state of life, and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women12And she laughed secretly, saying, "After I have grown old, and my lord is elderly, shall I give myself to the work of delight?13Then the Lord said to Abraham: "Why did Sarah laugh, saying: ‘How can I, an old woman, actually give birth?14Is anything difficult for God? According to the announcement, he will return to you at this same time, with life as a companion, and Sarah will have a son.15Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh." For she was terribly afraid. But the Lord said, "It is not so; for you did laugh.
Matthew
5And when he had entered into Capernaum, a centurion approached, petitioning him6and saying, "Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and badly tormented.7And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him.8And responding, the centurion said: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed9For I, too, am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.10And, hearing this, Jesus wondered. And he said to those following him: "Amen I say to you, I have not found so great a faith in Israel11For I say to you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and they shall sit at table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven12But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.13And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, and just as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And the servant was healed at that very hour14And when Jesus had arrived at the house of Peter, he saw his mother-in-law lying ill with a fever15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose up and ministered to them16And when evening arrived, they brought to him many who had demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word. And he healed all those having maladies17in order to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah, saying, "He took our infirmities, and he carried away our diseases.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound lessons on faith, trust, and the boundless power of God. The first reading from Genesis recounts the visit of three divine beings to Abraham, who exemplifies hospitality and unwavering faith. Despite Sarah's laughter at the improbable promise of a son in her old age, God reaffirms His power to fulfill the impossible, emphasizing that human limitations do not constrain divine promises.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a centurion whose remarkable faith in Jesus' authority leads to the healing of his servant. This episode underscores the themes of humility and trust, as the centurion recognizes his unworthiness yet believes in Jesus' power. Jesus' subsequent healings, including Peter's mother-in-law, illustrate His compassion and fulfillment of prophecy, highlighting His divine mission to bear our infirmities.
These readings intertwine through their emphasis on faith and trust. Abraham's belief in God's promise and the centurion's faith in Jesus mirror each other, demonstrating how faith transcends human understanding and leads to miraculous outcomes. Both narratives also highlight the virtues of hospitality and service—Abraham's eagerness to serve and the centurion's intercession for his servant.
In our daily lives, these stories invite us to embrace faith and humility. Like Abraham and the centurion, we are called to trust God beyond our comprehension and to serve others with openness and compassion. The readings remind us that our limitations do not limit God's power, encouraging us to approach life with faith and trust, trusting that God can achieve the impossible through us.