Daily Readings - Tue Jul 17 2018
Isaiah
1And it happened in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, the king of Judah, that Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, ascended to Jerusalem to battle against it. But they were not able to defeat it2And they reported to the house of David, saying: "Syria has withdrawn to Ephraim." And his heart was shaken, with the heart of his people, just as the trees of the forest are moved by the face of the wind3And the Lord said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son, Jashub, who was left behind, to the end of the aqueduct, at the upper pool, on the road to the fuller’s field4And you shall say to him: "See to it that you are silent. Do not be afraid. And have no dread in your heart over the two tails of these firebrands, nearly extinguished, which are the wrath of the fury of Rezin, king of Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.5For Syria has undertaken a plan against you, with the evil of Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, saying6"Let us ascend to Judah, and stir it up, and tear it away for ourselves, and appoint the son of Tabeel as a king in its midst.7Thus says the Lord God: This shall not stand, and this shall not be8For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within sixty-five years from now, Ephraim will cease to be a people9For the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you will not believe, you will not continue
Matthew
20Then he began to rebuke the cities in which many of his miracles were accomplished, for they still had not repented21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in haircloth and ashes22Yet truly, I say to you, Tyre and Sidon shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment23And you, Capernaum, would you be exalted all the way to heaven? You shall descend all the way to Hell. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, perhaps it would have remained, even to this day24Yet truly, I say to you, that the land of Sodom shall be forgiven more than you, on the day of judgment.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and response to God's presence in our lives. The first reading from Isaiah 7:1-9 presents King Ahaz facing an imminent threat from Syria and Israel. Despite the danger, Isaiah assures Ahaz that Judah will be protected, emphasizing trust in God's plan. This context highlights the importance of faith during crises, urging us to rely on divine providence rather than human strength.
The Gospel from Matthew 11:20-24 shifts our focus to Jesus rebuking cities that witnessed miracles yet failed to repent. Jesus contrasts their indifference with the hypothetical repentance of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, suggesting that these cities would have responded more faithfully. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring God's signs and the importance of a responsive heart.
Both readings underscore the necessity of faith and responsiveness to God. Isaiah's message encourages trust in God's promises, while Matthew's narrative warns against complacency. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this dual lesson: to trust in God's plan and to respond wholeheartedly to His grace. Let us cultivate a faith that not only endures trials but also embraces the transformative power of God's word, leading us to a life of repentance and deeper communion with Him.