Daily Readings - Sat Jun 26 2021
Genesis
1And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.2He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth3and said, "O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."6And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes."7And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "She is in the tent."10The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?"13The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."15But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
Matthew
5When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6"Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."7And he said to him, "I will come and heal him."8But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I too am a man under authority, with 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."10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.11I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,12while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."13And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.14And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore 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.