Daily Readings - Fri Jul 27 2018
Jeremiah
14Convert, O rebellious sons, says the Lord. For I am your leader. And so, I will take you, one from a city, and two from a family, and I will lead you into Zion15And I will give you pastors according to my own heart. And they will feed you with knowledge and doctrine16And when you have been multiplied and increased in the land in those days, says the Lord, they will no longer say: ‘The Ark of the covenant of the Lord!’ And it will not enter into the heart, and they will not call it to mind. It will neither be visited, nor made use of, any longer17In that time, Jerusalem will be called: ‘The Throne of the Lord.’ And all the nations will be gathered to it, in the name of the Lord, in Jerusalem. And they will not walk after the depravity of their own most wicked heart
Matthew
18Listen, then, to the parable of the sower19With anyone who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, evil comes and carries away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received the seed by the side of the road20Then whoever has received the seed upon a rocky place, this is one who hears the word and promptly accepts it with joy21But he has no root in himself, so it is only for a time; then, when tribulation and persecution occur because of the word, he promptly stumbles22And whoever has received the seed among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the falseness of riches suffocate the word, and he is effectively without fruit23Yet truly, whoever has received the seed into good soil, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, and so he bears fruit, and he produces: some a hundred fold, and another sixty fold, and another thirty fold.
Sermon
In today's readings, we hear God's call to return to Him and the importance of how we receive His word. Jeremiah, speaking during the Babylonian exile, urges Israel to repent and promises a future where Jerusalem will be the Throne of the Lord, gathering all nations. This vision of restoration highlights God's enduring love and His desire for His people to return to Him.
In the Gospel, Matthew explains the parable of the sower, illustrating how the condition of our hearts affects our reception of God's word. The roadside represents those who do not understand, the rocky ground those who lack depth, the thorny soil those distracted by worldly cares, and the good soil those who bear fruit. This parable emphasizes the need for a receptive and nurturing heart to cultivate spiritual growth.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded to evaluate our own hearts. Are we like the good soil, allowing God's word to take root and flourish? Or do we let the challenges and distractions of life hinder our spiritual growth? Jeremiah's promise of restoration and Jesus' parable call us to remain faithful and rooted in God's love. By doing so, we can bear fruit, living a life that reflects God's presence in the world. Let us strive to cultivate hearts that are open, receptive, and committed to His word.