Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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God often comes to us in disguise. The First Reading today, taken from the Book of Genesis, begins with these words, “The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre.” What form did the Lord take? “Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.” Now, this may be a hint that God has a triune nature of three persons, but it also shows that God will come to us as God wants to come to us. Unbeknownst to Abraham and his wife, Sarah, they had welcomed God himself!
In the Gospel, “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.” We know that her sister was Mary. At the time, neither of these women had any idea that the Son of God was with them — but he was!
It took some time, but Abraham and his wife Sarah would understand that they had entertained God in those three persons. Martha and Mary would eventually become the closest followers of Jesus and call him Lord and master of their lives.
We know that Jesus comes to us in different forms as well. He says, “Whenever you took care of one of these little ones, you took care of me.” When we show compassion to someone else, we are taking care of the image of God himself in that person.
But, at Mass, Jesus has decided to come to us in a very unique way. He comes to us hidden under the signs of bread and wine. As followers of Jesus, we have come to believe that the consecrated bread is no longer bread — but His flesh and the consecrated wine is no longer wine — but His blood. Jesus himself, resurrected from the dead, comes back to us at every Mass to feed us. Jesus himself, crucified and alive again, is reserved in every tabernacle in our churches so that we can pray before him.
May we have the eyes to see and behold the Lord of Life and welcome him like Abraham and Sarah, contemplate him like Mary, and serve him like Martha.
Have a blessed week everyone.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071722.cfm
God often comes to us in disguise. The First Reading today, taken from the Book of Genesis, begins with these words, “The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre.” What form did the Lord take? “Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.” Now, this may be a hint that God has a triune nature of three persons, but it also shows that God will come to us as God wants to come to us. Unbeknownst to Abraham and his wife, Sarah, they had welcomed God himself!
In the Gospel, “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.” We know that her sister was Mary. At the time, neither of these women had any idea that the Son of God was with them — but he was!
It took some time, but Abraham and his wife Sarah would understand that they had entertained God in those three persons. Martha and Mary would eventually become the closest followers of Jesus and call him Lord and master of their lives.
We know that Jesus comes to us in different forms as well. He says, “Whenever you took care of one of these little ones, you took care of me.” When we show compassion to someone else, we are taking care of the image of God himself in that person.
But, at Mass, Jesus has decided to come to us in a very unique way. He comes to us hidden under the signs of bread and wine. As followers of Jesus, we have come to believe that the consecrated bread is no longer bread — but His flesh and the consecrated wine is no longer wine — but His blood. Jesus himself, resurrected from the dead, comes back to us at every Mass to feed us. Jesus himself, crucified and alive again, is reserved in every tabernacle in our churches so that we can pray before him.
May we have the eyes to see and behold the Lord of Life and welcome him like Abraham and Sarah, contemplate him like Mary, and serve him like Martha.
Have a blessed week everyone.