Daily Readings - Sun Jul 20 2025
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 tent
Colossians
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
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 hospitality, faith, and the balance between action and contemplation. The first reading from Genesis describes Abraham’s encounter with three mysterious visitors, whom he welcomes with generous hospitality. Abraham and Sarah go to great lengths to provide for their guests, even though they are unaware that these visitors are divine messengers. Their kindness and openness are rewarded with the extraordinary promise that Sarah, despite her advanced age, will bear a son. This story highlights the importance of hospitality and trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible.
The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to the missionary work of St. Paul, who sees his sufferings as a way to complete what is lacking in the Passion of Christ. Paul’s mission is to make known the mystery of Christ, which has been revealed to the Gentiles. He emphasizes that Christ is the hope of glory within us, and his work is to bring everyone to full maturity in Christ. This reading reminds us that our faith is not just for ourselves but is meant to be shared with others, and that we are all called to participate in the mission of the Church.
In the Gospel, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, where Martha is busy preparing a meal while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words. When Martha complains about Mary’s inaction, Jesus gently reminds her that Mary has chosen the better part. This passage is not a criticism of Martha’s service but a reminder that our relationship with God must always come first. In a world that often values busyness and productivity, this Gospel challenges us to prioritize time for prayer, reflection, and listening to God’s word.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we balance action and contemplation in our lives. Like Abraham and Sarah, we are called to be hospitable and trusting in God’s promises. Like St. Paul, we are called to share the mystery of Christ with others. And like Mary, we are called to sit at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning. May we strive to live lives that are both active in service and rooted in a deep, personal relationship with Christ. Let us remember that the best portion, as Mary chose, is to be with the Lord.