Daily Readings - Sat Jun 26 2021
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.11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Matthew
5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.14And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
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.