Daily Readings - Fri Jun 30 2017

First Reading - Genesis 17.1, 5, 9-10, 15-22

¹In truth, after he began to be ninety-nine years of age, the Lord appeared to him. And he said to him: "I am the Almighty God. Walk in my sight and become complete⁵No longer will your name be called Abram. But you will be called Abraham, for I have established you as the father of many nations⁹Again God said to Abraham: "And you therefore shall keep my covenant, and your offspring after you in their generations¹⁰This is my covenant, which you shall observe, between me and you, and your offspring after you: All the males among you shall be circumcised¹⁵God said also to Abraham: "Your wife Sarai, you shall not call Sarai, but Sarah¹⁶And I will bless her, and from her I will give you a son, whom I will bless, and he will be among the nations, and the kings of the peoples will rise from him.¹⁷Abraham fell on his face, and he laughed, saying in his heart: "Do you think a son can be born to a one hundred year old man? And will Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?¹⁸And he said to God, "If only Ishmael would live in your sight.¹⁹And God said to Abraham: "Your wife Sarah shall give birth to a son, and you shall call his name Isaac, and I will establish my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant, and with his offspring after him²⁰Likewise, concerning Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless and enlarge him, and I will multiply him greatly. He will produce twelve leaders, and I will make him into a great nation²¹Yet in truth, I will establish my covenant with Isaac, to whom Sarah will give birth for you at this time next year.²²And when he had finished speaking with him, God ascended from Abraham

Gospel - Matthew 8.1-4

Matthew

Chapter 8

¹And when he had descended from the mountain, great crowds followed him²And behold, a leper, drawing near, adored him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.³And Jesus, extending his hand, touched him, saying: "I am willing. Be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed⁴And Jesus said to him: "See to it that you tell no one. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses instructed, as a testimony for them.

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God's unwavering promises. The first reading from Genesis 17 details God's covenant with Abraham, where Abram and Sarai are renamed, symbolizing a new divine relationship. Despite Abraham's doubt due to their advanced age, God assures him of a future filled with blessings, including the birth of Isaac. This passage underscores the theme of trust in God's plan, even when it seems improbable. The Gospel from Matthew 8:1-4 presents a leper who approaches Jesus with humility and faith, seeking healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to follow the Mosaic law by presenting himself to the priest. This story highlights the power of faith and the importance of obedience, as the leper's trust in Jesus leads to his restoration. Both readings beautifully intertwine themes of faith and trust in God. Abraham's story reminds us to have faith in God's promises, while the leper's encounter with Jesus illustrates the transformative power of faith. In our daily lives, we are called to trust God's plan, even when faced with uncertainty, and to respond with obedience and gratitude when we experience His grace. Let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide us in our walk with God, and may we, like the leper, humbly seek His healing touch in our lives.