The God Who Comes Near

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Third Sunday after Pentecost 

Today's Readings:
[ Gen 18:1-15; Ps 116:1, 10-17; Rom 5:1-8; Mt 9:35-10:8 ]

The readings today weave together a remarkable theme: God comes near to us long before we think ourselves ready.

In Genesis, Abraham receives three mysterious visitors by the oaks of Mamre. He offers hospitality without hesitation, preparing a meal and welcoming strangers into his tent. In return, he receives a promise that seems impossible: Sarah, long past childbearing years, will bear a son. Sarah laughs at the promise, unable to imagine such grace becoming reality. Yet God asks, “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?”.

How often are we like Sarah? We hear God's promises of renewal, forgiveness, healing, or transformation, and quietly laugh within ourselves. The wounds seem too deep, the circumstances too fixed, our own limitations too great. Yet the Gospel reminds us that Christ continually goes out among the towns and villages, teaching, healing, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. He sees the crowds and is “moved with compassion” because they are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”.

From a Franciscan perspective, this compassion lies at the heart of the Christian life. Saint Francis was captivated by the humility of God—a God who does not remain distant but draws near to creation in love. The Incarnation itself is proof that nothing is impossible for God. Divine love enters human weakness, embraces suffering, and transforms it from within.

Paul echoes this truth in Romans: “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us”. God does not wait for us to become worthy. He comes to us first.

Today, we are invited to receive God's presence with Abraham's hospitality and to trust God's promises despite Sarah's doubts. The Lord who came to Abraham's tent, who walked the roads of Galilee, and who died for us while we were still sinners continues to come near. Our task is not to make the impossible possible. It is simply to welcome him and trust that his grace can accomplish what we cannot.

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