Daily Readings - Wed Jun 28 2017

First Reading - Genesis 15.1-12, 17-18

¹And so, these things having been transacted, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your protector, and your reward is exceedingly great.²And Abram said: "Lord God, what will you give to me? I may go without children. And the son of the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus.³And Abram added: "Yet to me you have not given offspring. And behold, my servant born in my house will be my heir.⁴And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: "This one will not be your heir. But he who will come from your loins, the same will you have for your heir.⁵And he brought him outside, and he said to him, "Take in the heavens, and number the stars, if you can." And he said to him, "So also will your offspring be.⁶Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice⁷And he said to him, "I am the Lord who led you away from Ur of the Chaldeans, so as to give you this land, and so that you would possess it.⁸But he said, "Lord God, in what way may I be able to know that I will possess it?⁹And the Lord responded by saying: "Take for me a cow of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, also a turtle-dove and a pigeon.¹⁰Taking all these, he divided them through the middle, and placed both parts opposite one another. But the birds he did not divide¹¹And birds descended upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away¹²And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a dread, great and dark, invaded him¹⁷Then, when the sun had set, there came a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions¹⁸On that day, God formed a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your offspring I will give this land, from the river of Egypt, even to the great river Euphrates

Gospel - Matthew 7.15-20

Matthew

Chapter 7

¹⁵Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves¹⁶You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles¹⁷So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit¹⁸A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit¹⁹Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire²⁰Therefore, by their fruits you will know them

Sermon

In today's readings, we explore themes of trust and discernment, guiding us to deepen our faith and wisely navigate our relationships. The first reading from Genesis 15 presents Abram's vision where God establishes a covenant, promising him land and numerous descendants. Abram, despite uncertainty, trusts God, exemplifying unwavering faith. This covenant, symbolized by the smoking furnace and lamp of fire, signifies God's commitment and Abram's trust, teaching us to have confidence in God's promises even when the future is unclear. In Matthew 7, Jesus cautions against false prophets, advising us to discern them by their actions—good fruits come from good trees. This teaches us the importance of discernment, to look beyond appearances and evaluate the integrity of others through their deeds, ensuring we follow genuine spiritual guidance. These readings together encourage us to trust in God's plan and to discern wisely in our relationships. In daily life, let us cultivate trust in God's promises and practice discernment, seeking those who bear good fruit. May we grow in faith and wisdom, trusting God and discerning His truth in all we do.