Daily Readings - Fri Aug 03 2018
Jeremiah
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying2"Thus says the Lord: Stand in the atrium of the house of the Lord, and speak to all the cities of Judah, from which they come to adore in the house of the Lord, all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not choose to subtract any word3So may they hear and be converted, each one from his evil way. And then I may repent of the evil that I plan to do to them because of the wickedness of their pursuits4And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, so that you walk in my law, which I have given to you5so that you listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I have sent to you, who arise while it is still night, and though they give guidance, you do not listen6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city into a curse for all the nations of the earth.7And the priests, and the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord8And when Jeremiah had completed speaking all that the Lord had instructed him to speak to all the people, then the priests, and the prophets, and all the people apprehended him, saying: "You shall be put to death.9"Why has he prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying: ‘Like Shiloh, so shall this house be,’ and, ‘This city shall be made desolate, even without an inhabitant?’ " And all the people were gathered together against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord
Matthew
54And arriving in his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so much so that they wondered and said: "How can such wisdom and power be with this one55Is this not the son of a workman? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Therefore, from where has this one obtained all these things?57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.58And he did not work many miracles there, because of their unbelief
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful moments of prophetic witness, each highlighting the challenges of speaking God’s truth to those who are unwilling to hear it. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands courageously in the Temple courtyard, delivering a message of repentance to the people of Judah. He warns them that if they do not turn away from their sinful ways, the Temple will suffer the same fate as Shiloh, which was destroyed for its corruption. Despite the urgency of his message, Jeremiah faces fierce resistance, and the people even threaten his life. This passage reminds us that proclaiming God’s truth often comes at a cost, and it requires unwavering faith and courage.
In the Gospel, we see a similar dynamic as Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. Though he teaches with wisdom and authority, the people are scandalized because they know him as the son of a carpenter. Their familiarity with him breeds contempt, and they refuse to accept his divine mission. Jesus responds by noting that a prophet is often rejected in his own home, and as a result, he works few miracles there due to their lack of faith. This passage invites us to reflect on our own openness to God’s presence in our lives. How often do we fail to recognize the divine truth in front of us because of our preconceptions or pride?
Both readings challenge us to examine our own hearts and minds. Are we open to hearing God’s word, even when it comes through unexpected or unwelcome messengers? Do we allow our familiarity with others or our own biases to blind us to the truth? The moral lesson here is clear: humility and faith are essential for receiving God’s grace. Like Jeremiah, we must be willing to stand firm in our commitment to God’s truth, even in the face of opposition. And like the people of Nazareth, we must guard against the temptation to dismiss or reject what God is doing in our midst. Let us pray for the grace to be open, humble, and faithful in our daily lives.