Introit:Ps 119:57-60, 64 (antiphon: Ps 119:105)
Gradual: [Rom. 10:15b, 18b; Is. 52:7b, alt.]
Psalm: Ps 27:(1-6) 7-14 (antiphon: Ps 27:4)
OT: Gen 18:1-10a (10b-14)
Epistle:Col 1:21-29
Proper Verse: Col 2:6-7a
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

The Word of Christ Is the One Thing Needed
"The Lord appeared to [Abraham] by the oaks of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1) and received his hospitality. But Abraham received the gracious promise of a son. Though Abraham and Sarah were very old, nothing is "too hard for the Lord" (Gen. 18:14). His Word appointed the time and fulfilled the promise. In the same way, the Lord Jesus "entered a village" and received Martha's hospitality (Luke 10:38). "Martha was distracted with much serving" because she was "anxious and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:40_41), but her sister Mary "sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching" (Luke 10:39). The service of love is no sin, but "one thing is necessary" for both faith and love „ the Word of Christ (Luke 10:42). Thus, the ministers of Christ are sent "to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints" (Col. 1:25_26).

Introit:Ps 119:145-149 (antiphon: Ps 50:15)
Gradual: [Rom. 10:15b, 18b; Is. 52:7b, alt.]
Psalm: Ps 138 (antiphon: Ps 138:3)
OT: Gen 18:(17-19) 20-33
Epistle:Col 2:6-15 (16-19)
Proper Verse: Luke 11:9\nGospel: Luke 11:1-13

The Prayer of the Church Is the Voice of Faith\nJesus catechizes His disciples in the way of faith by teaching them how to pray. He promises us: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). If earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, "how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Luke 11:13). Thus, father Abraham was bold in his prayer because he believed the gracious promise of the Lord, that he would "surely become a great and mighty nation" (Gen. 18:18). When we pray in Jesus' name, we also hold "fast to the Head" (Col. 2:19), "rooted and built up in him and established in the faith" (Col. 2:6_7).

Introit:Ps. 49:7-8, 13-14a, 15 (antiphon: Ps 49:1-2)
Gradual: [Rom. 10:15b, 18b; Is. 52:7b, alt.]
Psalm: Ps 100 (antiphon: Ps 100:3)
OT: Eccl 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-26
Epistle:Col 3:1-11
Proper Verse: Col 3:23-24a
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Faith in Christ Is Rich toward God
To live for earthly things "is vanity and a striving after wind," and work that is driven by such vanity "is an unhappy business" (Eccl. 1:13_14). The man who lives like that has nothing to show for "all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun ƒ all his days are full of sorrow" (Eccl. 2:22_23). So, too, your "covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5), makes a god out of that which cannot give you life or happiness. For "one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). But "Christ who is your life" (Col. 3:4), in giving you Himself, gives you all the wealth of heaven. Instead of striving to lay up treasures for yourself, be "rich toward God" in Him (Luke 12:21).

Introit:Ps 147:8-11 (antiphon: Ps 147:7)
Gradual: [Ps. 34:9, 19, alt.]
Psalm: Ps 33:12-22 (antiphon: Ps 33:20)
OT: Gen 15:1-6
Epistle:Heb 11:1-16
Proper Verse: Luke 12:32
Gospel: Luke 12:22-34 (35-40)

The Lord Is Surely Coming to Give You His Kingdom
The Lord Himself was Abraham's shield and great reward. For "the word of the Lord came to him" and sustained the patriarch's faith in the face of death (Gen. 15:4). By divine grace, Abraham "believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6), on account of the holy Seed, Christ Jesus. To that one old man, the Lord granted "descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore" (Heb. 11:12). The Lord is likewise faithful to you. It is His glad desire "to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). Therefore, "do not be anxious about your life," but instead "seek his kingdom" (Luke 12:22, 31). Set your heart on that treasure. "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning ƒ for the Son of Man is coming" (Luke 12:35, 40).