Daily Readings - Sun Jul 17 2022
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 three distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us toward a balanced and spiritually rich life. The first reading from Genesis presents Abraham's encounter with three divine visitors. His eagerness to serve and his hospitality lead to a profound promise—the birth of a son to Sarah, a pivotal moment in the story of salvation. This narrative underscores the themes of hospitality and trust in God's promises.
The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to Paul's mission. He writes about his sufferings for the Church and the revelation of the mystery of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul's dedication to spreading the Gospel emphasizes the importance of service and teaching in our spiritual journey, urging us to guide others toward perfection in Christ.
The Gospel from Luke introduces Martha and Mary, two sisters who embody different aspects of Christian life. Martha's active service contrasts with Mary's contemplative listening. Jesus' response highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual nourishment, reminding us that while service is good, listening and focusing on God is essential.
These readings collectively teach us to balance action and contemplation. Like Abraham, we are called to be hospitable and trusting. Like Paul, we are urged to serve and teach. And like Mary, we must make time for spiritual focus. In our daily lives, this means finding moments for prayer amidst our duties, trusting in God's plan, and embracing both service and reflection. Let us strive to live this balanced life, where hospitality, service, and spiritual nourishment guide us toward a deeper connection with God.