Daily Readings - Sun Jul 20 2025
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 hospitality, faith, and the balance between action and contemplation. The first reading from Genesis describes Abraham’s encounter with three mysterious visitors, whom he welcomes with generous hospitality. Abraham and Sarah go to great lengths to provide for their guests, even though they are unaware that these visitors are divine messengers. Their kindness and openness are rewarded with the extraordinary promise that Sarah, despite her advanced age, will bear a son. This story highlights the importance of hospitality and trust in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible.
The second reading from Colossians shifts our focus to the missionary work of St. Paul, who sees his sufferings as a way to complete what is lacking in the Passion of Christ. Paul’s mission is to make known the mystery of Christ, which has been revealed to the Gentiles. He emphasizes that Christ is the hope of glory within us, and his work is to bring everyone to full maturity in Christ. This reading reminds us that our faith is not just for ourselves but is meant to be shared with others, and that we are all called to participate in the mission of the Church.
In the Gospel, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary, where Martha is busy preparing a meal while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening to his words. When Martha complains about Mary’s inaction, Jesus gently reminds her that Mary has chosen the better part. This passage is not a criticism of Martha’s service but a reminder that our relationship with God must always come first. In a world that often values busyness and productivity, this Gospel challenges us to prioritize time for prayer, reflection, and listening to God’s word.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we balance action and contemplation in our lives. Like Abraham and Sarah, we are called to be hospitable and trusting in God’s promises. Like St. Paul, we are called to share the mystery of Christ with others. And like Mary, we are called to sit at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning. May we strive to live lives that are both active in service and rooted in a deep, personal relationship with Christ. Let us remember that the best portion, as Mary chose, is to be with the Lord.