Daily Readings - Sun Jul 21 2019
Genesis
1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,3And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
Colossians
24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Luke
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about faith, hospitality, and the balance between action and contemplation. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Abraham’s encounter with three mysterious visitors. Abraham’s immediate response is one of hospitality—he rushes to welcome them, offers them rest and food, and serves them with generosity. This passage highlights Abraham’s deep faith and trust in God, as well as his openness to the divine presence in unexpected forms. It also foreshadows the announcement that Sarah, despite her advanced age, will bear a son, emphasizing God’s promise and the miraculous nature of faith.
The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to the missionary work of St. Paul. Paul describes his sufferings as a way of completing what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, emphasizing his role as a servant of the Church. He speaks of the mystery of Christ, once hidden but now revealed to all people, and the hope of glory that comes from knowing and following Christ. This passage reminds us that our faith is not just a personal relationship but also a call to share the Good News with others, even in the face of challenges and sacrifices.
In the Gospel, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, and we see two very different responses to his presence. Martha is consumed by busyness, trying to serve Jesus in a practical way, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words. Jesus gently corrects Martha, saying that Mary has chosen the “better part.” This passage teaches us that while service and action are important, they must flow from a deeper relationship with Christ. It invites us to cultivate a balance between doing and being, between activity and contemplation.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Abraham, we are called to be hospitable and open to God’s presence, even in unexpected ways. Like Paul, we are called to share the mystery of Christ with others, even when it requires sacrifice. And like Mary, we are called to prioritize time with the Lord, listening to his word and deepening our relationship with him. In a world that often values busyness and productivity, these readings remind us that true fulfillment comes from putting God first and trusting in his promises. Let us strive to live with hearts open to God, minds attentive to his word, and hands ready to serve others in love.