Daily Readings - Sat Jul 01 2023
Genesis
1The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.3He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way-now that you have come to your servant.Very well," they answered, "do as you say."6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.8He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.9"Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said.10Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.11Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing.12So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"13Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?'14Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."15Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."
Matthew
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.14When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.15He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried 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.