Daily Readings - Wed Jul 18 2018
Isaiah
5Woe to Assur! He is the rod and the staff of my fury, and my indignation is in their hands6I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will order him against the people of my fury, so that he may take away the plunder, and tear apart the prey, and place it to be trampled like the mud of the streets7But he will not consider it to be so, and his heart will not suppose it to be this way. Instead, his heart will be set to crush and to exterminate more than a few nations13For he has said: "I have acted with the strength of my own hand, and I have understood with my own wisdom, and I have removed the limits of the people, and I have plundered their leaders, and, like one with power, I have pulled down those residing on high14And my hand has reached to the strength of the people, as to a nest. And, just as the eggs which have been left behind are gathered, so have I gathered the entire earth. And there was no one who moved a wing, or opened a mouth, or uttered a snarl.15Should the axe glorify itself over him who wields it? Or can the saw exalt itself over him who pulls it? How can a rod lift itself up against him who wields it, or a staff exalt itself, though it is only wood16Because of this, the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones. And under the influence of his glory, a burning ardor will rage, like a consuming fire
Matthew
25At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones26Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that guide us toward humility and a deeper understanding of God's presence in our lives. The first reading from Isaiah warns against the pride of Assyria, which, though a tool of God's judgment, fails to acknowledge His hand in their power. Assyria's downfall comes from their belief that their strength and wisdom are their own achievements, ignoring the divine purpose they serve. This serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of recognizing God's role in our successes.
The Gospel from Matthew offers a contrasting perspective through Jesus' words. He praises the Father for revealing divine truths to the humble and simple, rather than the wise and powerful. Jesus emphasizes that true wisdom comes from a humble heart and a willingness to acknowledge God's revelation through Him. This highlights the virtue of humility and the need to trust in God's plan, rather than our own understanding.
These readings remind us to approach life with humility and openness to God's will. In our daily lives, we must avoid the trap of pride, recognizing that all our accomplishments are gifts from God. By embracing humility and trusting in His plan, we align ourselves with His will, just as Jesus taught. The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom lies in humility and acknowledging God's presence in all we do. Let us strive to live with this wisdom, seeking God's guidance and remaining humble in our achievements.