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First Reading: Gal 1:13–24
Brothers and sisters:
You heard of my former way of life in Judaism,
how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure
and tried to destroy it,
and progressed in Judaism
beyond many of my contemporaries among my race,
since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.
But when he, who from my mother's womb had set me apart
and called me through his grace,
was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles,
I did not immediately consult flesh and blood,
nor did I go up to Jerusalem
to those who were Apostles before me;
rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas
and remained with him for fifteen days.
But I did not see any other of the Apostles,
only James the brother of the Lord.
(As to what I am writing to you, behold,
before God, I am not lying.)
Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea
that are in Christ;
they only kept hearing that "the one who once was persecuting us
is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
So they glorified God because of me.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15
R./ Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O Lord, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R./ Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R./ Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
My soul also you knew full well;
nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
R./ Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Gospel Reading: Lk 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the Lord's feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving and finally she said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?"
But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her."
Dear friends,
Paul explains why he left Judaism. He says he did it because God called him. He was a strict Pharisee and a persecutor of Christians. This man became a follower of Jesus after meeting him on the road to Damascus. He says he did not learn the Gospel from the apostles. He only went to Jerusalem once to see Peter and then only saw James. He says he received it directly from Jesus. His work is true because he obeyed Jesus’ call to be his apostle.
The Gospel tells us about Jesus meeting Martha and Mary. Is it ok for Mary to sit at Jesus’ feet while Martha does chores? Is it ok to do this in the modern day when we have so much to do? Jesus says there is only one thing necessary. Many people discover this at the end of their lives. They see what is worthwhile and what is not. Some discover this earlier and try to live differently, focusing on being at the feet of the Lord.
Who can help us discover the power of living like this?
Godgossip
Opening Prayer
Our loving God and Father,
you have invited us to stay with you,
to listen to the message of Jesus your Son
and to accept from him your peace and love.
May we welcome him wholeheartedly
and learn from him to welcome him too
in people who appeal to us
for forgiveness and a bit of warmth,
for patience and hope and joy.
Let them not pass your servants by.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction
Paul asserts that he has the right to speak in the name of Christ because Jesus Christ himself has given him the Good News to speak it.
Gospel Introduction
A hospitable family or person makes guests feel at home and gives them the best available. But if we are truly hospitable we are also listening to the guest and to receive from him or her perhaps more than we give and in a deeper way. We receive the guest as a person. God presents himself in the Bible as a traveler on a journey. He asks for hospitality as a stranger or a poor person. Christ also says that in the homeless we welcome him.
General Intercessions
- That we may recognize the Lord in the features of a stranger and welcome him as we would welcome the Lord himself, we pray:
- That we may welcome the best our brothers and sisters give us, even before we share the best of ourselves with them, we pray:
- That we may be and remain hospitable people, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Father,
may we welcome Jesus your Son
in these offerings of bread and wine,
Open us to his word and his mentality.
Prepare us to welcome him in people
and to encounter him in their person,
even when he comes at another time
and in another way than we expect him.
Enrich us by giving to, and receiving from, one another
your greatest gift to us,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you have come among us in your Son
to be our guest.
In our everyday life
may we always be open to anyone in need.
Help us to recognize you and welcome you
in everyone who comes to us.
In every human encounter
offer us your grace and love
through Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives with you and stays with us
now and for ever.
Blessing
In this eucharist we have been the Lord's own guests. He has been very hospitable to us, listening to us and speaking to us his warm words of friendship. He sends us out now to be one another's guests and hosts. Welcome now the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
