Reflection for the website 14th June 2026 – Trinity 2A
“The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. 4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
5Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” 7Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”” Genesis 18:1-15
The story of Abraham’s three visitors at Mamre, is a well-known and much loved one, set some years after he’d set out for the promised land at God’s command. God had made a covenant with Abraham and promised that he would become the father of a great nation, yet here he is, now around 100 years old and Sarah about 90, still without any children. So part of what we can take from this passage, is the encouragement to keep on trusting God, even when his promises seem to be taking a very long time to come to fruition, even when it seems pretty much impossible that they can still be fulfilled.
But there’s also the story of how Abraham looks after his three unknown visitors, whom he’s spotted passing by his tent at Mamre, preparing a full meal for them, going beyond even the normal customs of hospitality for his culture. And Abraham doesn’t just issue orders and leave things to the servants, either – he takes the food out to them himself when it’s ready, then spends time talking with his guests whilst they eat. We notice that this generous provision and care for others, was given before Abraham and Sarah received the reaffirmation of God’s promise that they would indeed have a son. It’s as though their caring for and providing for others makes them more able to encounter God and receive the gifts God wants to give them. And so it is still, for us, sometimes. In making the effort to be generous, to put ourselves out for someone else’s sake, to do a task that we don’t have to do, but choose to do to help someone, we open ourselves up to receive God’s love and blessing in deeper ways, and we benefit at least as much as those whom we’re trying to support. So as we think on today’s passage, let us give thanks for Abraham’s example and try to follow him in his great trust in God and in his generous hospitality to others.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the grace to come before You. Like Abraham, help me to welcome You into my daily life with an open and generous heart. Forgive me for the times I have limited Your power with my doubts, or like Sarah, responded to Your promises with quiet laughter and disbelief. Remind me that nothing is too wonderful or impossible for You. Strengthen my faith, remove my fears, and anchor my hope in Your unfailing word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.