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Breaking Open the Word at Home: July 21, 2019

by on Jul 21, 2019 in Catechesis, Featured, Parenting
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Sunday Mass Readings for the Ministry of Parents and Godparents

The Church professes Christian parents to be the “first” teachers of the faith and calls them to be the “best” teachers of the faith (The Rite of Infant Baptism). Godparents agree to assist in this ministry of parents. This resource from Catholic Lane is to assist you, parent or godparent, with using the Sunday Mass readings to teach the Catholic Faith and live the Catholic Faith as a family.

July 21, 2019: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Genesisn18:1-10, Psalm 15, Colossians 1:24-28k, Luke 10:38-42

Summary of Readings

The first reading is the Genesis story of Abraham providing hospitality toward God’s ambassadors, and God then announcing the birth of Abraham’s first son with his wife, Sarah. This future covenantal leader will be known to be Isaac.

The Psalm speaks of the blessings and closeness with God that comes to those that act just and right before God. Saint Paul writes to the Colossians and speaks of how suffering and hardships can be united with the suffering and offering of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel Jesus commends Mary, sister of Martha who served Jesus with a focus on her own status, for sitting with Jesus and listening to Him speak.

Catechetical Talking Points

These readings provide an opportunity to examine how all that we do is for the glory of God: hospitality, acts of justice, and suffering or hardship. The goal is deeper communion with Jesus.

  • Our purpose is to know and love God (CCC 1-3).
  • We all have a deep desire for God (CCC 27-30).
  • Our suffering and hardships can be offered up to God (CCC 1505-1506)
  • Acting just before God as a society (CCC 1928-1948).
  • Listening to God during Meditative Prayer (CCC 2705-2708).
  • Resting in God’s presence through Contemplative Prayer (CCC 2709-2719).

Truth in Action

Parents or godparents can also put the catechetical content into action through various activities. Here are just a few examples:

  • Read the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10. Pray with it using Lectio Divina (click here for a Lectio Divina guide).
  • Invite your child or godchild to begin the day with you in prayer, and to offer all to God.
  • End the day with a reflection with your child or godchild. Examine how God was active in your day.
  • Make a conscious effort to offer up your pain or suffering to Jesus, for specific intentions of your child or godchild: their vocation, their closeness with Jesus, their call to be a Saint, their future moments of crisis, their possible
  • future spouse, etc.

Bookmark Catholiclane.com for future Sunday Mass Readings for the Ministry of Parents and Godparents.


Brandon Harvey is a Teacher, Speaker and Theological Consultant who resides in Omaha, Nebraska. He is married and is blessed with four children. He is the host of the Home Catechesis Podcast and the Home Catechesis Review (Vlog) on youtube.