July 18, 2010
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1

Gn 18:1-10a

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent,
while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby.
When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them;
and bowing to the ground, he said:
"Sir, if I may ask you this favor,
please do not go on past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet,
and then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant,
let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves;
and afterward you may go on your way."
The men replied, "Very well, do as you have said."

Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah,
"Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls."
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer,
and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then Abraham got some curds and milk,
as well as the steer that had been prepared,
and set these before the three men;
and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife Sarah?"
He replied, "There in the tent."
One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah will then have a son."

Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 Responsorial Psalm

R. (1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake,
and in my flesh I am filling up
what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his body, which is the church,
of which I am a minister
in accordance with God's stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.
But now it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles;
it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.
It is he whom we proclaim,
admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."

Catholic Fundamentalism Interpretation:

The Loving Programmer appeared to Abraham in mid morning by the great oak at Mamre while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent.  When he looked up, from dozing he saw three men, possible The Loving Programmer, The Beloved Program, and The Holy Wireless Connector, all in human form.  He must have known they were special, because he ran to them, bowed, and begged them not to pass by.  He promised them water for bathing, a place to rest, and something to eat.

They agreed to stay with him.   Abraham went quickly into the tent and told Sarah to use her best flour to make rolls, and had a servant prepare his finest steer. 

He also got curds and milk, along with the cooked steer, and set these before the men.  He waited on them, himself.

They asked Abraham, "Where is your wife, Sarah?".  "In the tent."

One of them said, "I will surely be back about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."

Since Sarah was very old, this required complicated reprogramming.

The Loving Programmer has set forth what the free-will, human programs must do to be downloaded within Him:

We must avoid doing things that are worthy of blame.  We must do justice.

We must not do harm to our neighbors, nor must we complain about them.  We must despise those who despise The Loving Programmer and honor those who fear Him.

We mustn't lend money for (high) interest.  And, we must not accept a bribe to hurt the innocent.  One who avoids these things will have his individual human program unaltered and unerased.  He will be protected by The Loving Programmer Who will always be near.

Fellow believers, I am glad to suffer for your sake, and have my body be afflicted for the sake of His Body, The Church, where I download His Body, Blood, and teaching, and am authorized to share it with you.

I have been chosen to explain to you how The Loving Programmer has sent the prophets to tell what He was going to do, and how He had scribes write it down so there could be no doubt.  Then, His prophecies came true in the Person of Jesus Christ, The Beloved Program Who came to live among us and fulfil His Father's desires for him. 

This has been shown, and given to you in the Eucharist, and it is The Beloved Program within you that is your hope for glory.  We want to be perfect in Christ Whom we proclaim.

The Beloved Program, perfect and obedient and in human form, entered a village where Martha welcomed Him.  Her sister, Mary, sat at His feet, and listened intently to Him as He spoke.

Martha, tired from doing all the work of serving, came to Him and said, "Lord, don't you care that I'm stuck doing all the work while my sister ignores it?  Tell her to help me."

The Beloved Program answered, "Martha, you are worried about many things.  The only thing that anyone needs to do is get to Heaven.  Mary has chosen the better part, and she will keep it."