Daily Readings - Sat Jul 14 2018
Isaiah
1In the year in which king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, sublime and exalted, and the things that were under him filled the temple2The Seraphims were standing above the throne. One had six wings, and the other had six wings: with two they were covering his face, and with two they were covering his feet, and with two they were flying3And they were crying out to one another, and saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!4And the lintels above the hinges were shaken at the voice of the one crying out. And the house was filled with smoke5And I said: "Woe to me! For I have remained silent. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live in the midst of a people having unclean lips, and I have seen with my eyes the King, the Lord of hosts!6And one of the Seraphims flew to me, and in his hand was a burning coal, which he had taken with tongs from the altar7And he touched my mouth, and he said, "Behold, this has touched your lips, and so your iniquities will be taken away, and your sin will be cleansed.8And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send?" and, "Who will go for us?" And I said: "Here I am. Send me.
Matthew
24The disciple is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above his master25It is sufficient for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant, like his master. If they have called the Father of the family, ‘Beelzebub,’ how much more those of his household26Therefore, do not fear them. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known27What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear whispered in the ear, preach above the rooftops28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But instead fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell29Are not two sparrows sold for one small coin? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father30For even the hairs of your head have all been numbered31Therefore, do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows32Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father, who is in heaven33But whoever will have denied me before men, I also will deny before my Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and the call to courage. Isaiah's vision in the temple, where he beholds the glory of God and is purified by a seraphim, marks a pivotal moment of surrender to God's will. Similarly, in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus exhorts His disciples to fear not those who can harm the body but to trust in God's providence, emphasizing the importance of openly professing faith.
The context of Isaiah's vision is set against the backdrop of King Uzziah's death, a time of uncertainty, prompting Isaiah to reflect on his own unworthiness. Yet, through purification, he is empowered to respond to God's call. In Matthew, Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges ahead, urging them to be bold and trust in God's care, knowing that even the smallest details of their lives are known to Him.
These readings unite in their call to embrace our mission with humility and courage. Isaiah's response and Jesus' teachings remind us to trust in God's providence, especially when faced with adversity. The moral lesson here is the strength found in surrendering to God's will, allowing us to overcome fear and doubt, and to live our faith openly.