16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

‘O Lord, do not pass by your servant.’

 In those days: The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, ‘O Lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on — since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, ‘Quick! Three measures of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.’ And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, ‘Where is Sarah your wife?’ And he said, ‘She is in the tent.’ The Lord said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ 

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Whoever walks without fault;

who does what is righteous,

and speaks the truth from his heart;

whoever does not slander with his tongue.

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Who does no wrong to a neighbour,

who casts no slur on a friend,

who looks with scorn on the wicked,

but honours those who fear the Lord.

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Who lends no money at interest,

and accepts no bribes against the innocent.

Such a one shall never be shaken.

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

‘The mystery hidden for ages but now revealed to his saints.’

Brothers and Sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body — that is, the Church — of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known — the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints.

  To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed are those who hold fast to the word of God

in an honest and good heart,

and bear fruit with patience.

Alleluia.

‘Martha welcomed him. Mary has chosen the good portion.’

At that time: Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’