Daily Readings - Sun Jul 17 2022

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 three distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us toward a balanced and spiritually rich life. The first reading from Genesis presents Abraham's encounter with three divine visitors. His eagerness to serve and his hospitality lead to a profound promise—the birth of a son to Sarah, a pivotal moment in the story of salvation. This narrative underscores the themes of hospitality and trust in God's promises. The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to Paul's mission. He writes about his sufferings for the Church and the revelation of the mystery of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul's dedication to spreading the Gospel emphasizes the importance of service and teaching in our spiritual journey, urging us to guide others toward perfection in Christ. The Gospel from Luke introduces Martha and Mary, two sisters who embody different aspects of Christian life. Martha's active service contrasts with Mary's contemplative listening. Jesus' response highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual nourishment, reminding us that while service is good, listening and focusing on God is essential. These readings collectively teach us to balance action and contemplation. Like Abraham, we are called to be hospitable and trusting. Like Paul, we are urged to serve and teach. And like Mary, we must make time for spiritual focus. In our daily lives, this means finding moments for prayer amidst our duties, trusting in God's plan, and embracing both service and reflection. Let us strive to live this balanced life, where hospitality, service, and spiritual nourishment guide us toward a deeper connection with God.