THE GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Sunday - July 17, 2022

Sunday - July 17, 2022

In her voyage across the ocean of this world,  the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon the ship but to keep her on her course.

 - - Saint Boniface

July 17, 2022

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Lectionary: 108

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    Gn 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,

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."

 

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."

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  Ps 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.

 

Reading II    

                                                                                    Col 1:24-28

 

Brothers and sisters:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,

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,

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.

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.

 

Alleluia                                              Phil 2:8 Lk 8:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart

and yield a harvest through perseverance.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Lk 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."

 

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DON'T WORRY, BE FEARLESS

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus speaks to us about our anxieties and worries. They distract us. They're harmful to us if we let them control our lives, because they take our eyes off of our Lord and focus us on what's going wrong and how it might get worse.

 

Mary chose the "better part"; she didn't let anything distract her from being a disciple learning avidly from Jesus. When we make the time to put aside the busyness of life to sit quietly and learn from Jesus, we discover reasons why our worries aren't really so worrisome.

 

Only as we sit quietly at the feet of Jesus do we find hope that overcomes despair, peace that conquers anxiety, and wisdom that gets us through trials. Even the littlest worry, such as Martha's concern that her kitchen chores wouldn't get done, is a sin when it takes our eyes off of Jesus. Nothing that distracts us from Jesus is ever good for us.

 

We cannot grow in holiness when we're not watching Jesus and learning from him how to be holy. We cannot love as he loves nor receive all the love he gives us unless we have a prayer life that includes quiet time alone with him, drinking up his lessons and his loving embrace. Prayers said while driving and while listening to homilies isn't enough.

 

Anxieties and worries are varying degrees of fear: We're afraid that something bad is going to happen. Even when there's a legitimate reason to worry, fear blocks our view of Jesus, because it turns us away from him. We need to recognize fear as a warning flag telling us to slow down, quiet down, and sit down with Jesus for a good discussion on whatever it is that's bothering us. He's got the answers, the encouragement, and the affirmation that will bring us peace.

 

Today's Prayer

 

My Lord, I thank You, because You show up every day to be alone with me. Give me an alert and docile heart to give You the time and place You and I need to find ourselves in such a beautiful friendship. Amen. 

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”