July 21, 2013

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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Lectionary: 108

Reading 1GN 18:1-10A

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
and bowing to the ground, he said:
“Sir, if I may ask you this favor,

Note how three men appeared to Abraham, yet he addressed them in the singular, saying, "Sir…"

please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
and then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant,
let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
and afterward you may go on your way.”
The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.”

In reply, the three men spoke at once.

This was a vision of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
“Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.”
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
as well as the steer that had been prepared,
and set these before the three men;
and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?”
He replied, “There in the tent.”
One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah will then have a son.”

Then One of the three persons of the Holy Trinity told Abraham that Sarah would conceive and bear a male child by the same time next year.

Responsorial PsalmPS 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

R. (1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Those who believe in God will do the righteous works of God.  Those who love God will keep His commandments.  

Reading 2COL 1:24-28

Brothers and sisters:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,

St. Paul confirms the Catholic Teaching that we may suffer in our flesh for the sake of our brethren, that their sins are expiated.

and in my flesh I am filling up

what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ

on behalf of his body, which is the church,

This Teaching is also explained by St. Peter:

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, therefore, we may atone for our own sins and each others'.  

of which I am a minister

in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me

to bring to completion for you the word of God,

the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.

As a priest in God's Church, St. Paul was charged with bringing us the mystery hidden through all ages.  This mystery is multifaceted but it includes the mystery of the Eucharist, the Tree of Life, the Body and Blood of Christ which we must eat and live forever.  In the beginning, God said:

Genesis 3:22  And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,

to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory

of this mystery among the Gentiles;

it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. 

It is he whom we proclaim,

admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,

that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Another part of the mystery is the existence of the Holy Trinity and of Jesus Christ, the Son of God through whom all things were made:

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

 

GospelLK 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

Sts. Mary and Martha are two of the greatest saints the world has ever seen.  St. Mary is Mary of Magdala, the one from whom 7 demons were removed.  She loved God and focused all her attention upon Him.  St. Martha had to learn the same lesson.  She loved God but was anxious with many things.  There is a time to work.  And there is a time to relax.  This was a time to relax and rest in the presence of God.