Sunday between 17 and 23 July    

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

First Reading - Genesis 18.1-10a

A reading from the book of Genesis. This is how the Lord appeared to Abraham at Hebron. As Abraham sat at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day, he looked up and saw three figures standing near by. He ran to them, and bowed down, saying, ‘My Lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by, but rest here in the shade, and let me bring water to wash your feet, and bread, that you may eat, and be restored, before you continue on your way.’ Abraham hurried back to the tent, and asked Sarah to prepare three measures of the finest flour, and knead it quickly to make bread. He went out to the cattle, and took the best calf, and gave it to the servant, to prepare it. Then he took butter, and milk, and the meat of the calf, and set it before the three visitors. And he stood by them, in the shade of the tree, while they ate. They said to Abraham, ‘Where is Sarah, your wife?’ Abraham said, ‘She is there, in the tent.’ And one of them said, ‘I will surely return to you when the time is right, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Colossians 2.12-14, 3.1-2

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians. Once, we were dead in our trespasses. But now, we have been raised up to new life in Christ. All our trespasses are forgiven; the account that stood against us has been erased; all of its demands have been nailed to the cross. In our baptism, first we were buried with Christ; then, we were raised up to new life with Christ; and all this through our faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. So now that we have been raised up to new life in Christ, let us set our minds no longer on the things of earth, but on the things of heaven, where the risen Christ is in the presence of God. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Luke 10.38-42

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Jesus and his disciples entered a village as they continued on their way. In that village, a woman called Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. Martha had a sister called Mary, and Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to his words. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; and she said to Jesus, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her that she is to help me!’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, you are anxious and distracted by many things, but there is need of only one. Mary has chosen that one good thing, and it will not be taken away from her.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.