Daily Readings - Sat Jul 01 2023
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 two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, hospitality, and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Genesis describes Abraham’s encounter with three mysterious visitors. Abraham, with his wife Sarah, shows extraordinary hospitality, rushing to provide food and comfort for these strangers. Despite their advanced age, God promises them a son, Isaac, a promise that seems impossible to Sarah, who laughs in disbelief. Yet, God reminds us that nothing is impossible for Him, and Sarah’s laughter becomes a moment of grace, teaching us to trust in God’s plan even when it seems beyond our understanding.
In the Gospel, we meet a Roman centurion whose servant is paralyzed and suffering. The centurion approaches Jesus with humility and faith, acknowledging his unworthiness but trusting in Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus is moved by the centurion’s faith, which surpasses even that of many in Israel. The healing of the servant and the subsequent healings of Peter’s mother-in-law and many others demonstrate Jesus’ compassion and authority over sickness and evil. These miracles remind us that faith is not about worthiness but about trusting in God’s love and power.
Both readings call us to reflect on our own faith and hospitality. Abraham’s openness to strangers and the centurion’s unwavering trust in Jesus challenge us to embrace humility and generosity in our daily lives. Like Abraham, we are called to welcome others with kindness and openness, recognizing that every encounter is an opportunity to experience God’s presence. Like the centurion, we are invited to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems impossible or uncertain. Let us ask ourselves: Do we approach life with the humility and faith of the centurion? Do we open our hearts and homes to others as Abraham did? May these readings inspire us to live with greater trust in God and greater love for those around us.