Daily Readings - Thu Jun 27 2019
Genesis
6Abram responded to her by saying, "Behold, your handmaid is in your hand to treat as it pleases you." And so, when Sarai afflicted her, she took flight7And when the Angel of the Lord had found her, near the fountain of water in the wilderness, which is on the way to Shur in the desert8he said to her: "Hagar, handmaid of Sarai, where have you come from? And where will you go?" And she answered, "I flee from the face of Sarai, my mistress.9And the Angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hand.10And again he said, "I will multiply your offspring continuously, and they will not be numbered because of their multitude.11But thereafter he said: "Behold, you have conceived, and you will give birth to a son. And you shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction12He will be a wild man. His hand will be against all, and all hands will be against him. And he will pitch his tents away from the region of all his brothers.15And Hagar gave birth to a son for Abram, who called his name Ishmael16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for him
Matthew
21Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same shall enter into the kingdom of heaven22Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and perform many powerful deeds in your name?23And then will I disclose to them: ‘I have never known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.24Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them shall be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock25And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them shall be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand27And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, and it did fall, and great was its ruin.28And it happened, when Jesus had completed these words, that the crowds were astonished at his doctrine29For he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not like their scribes and Pharisees
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us in understanding the essence of faith and action. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, who, upon becoming pregnant with Abram's child, faces mistreatment and flees. An angel appears to her, promising numerous descendants and instructing her to return to Sarai. Hagar's obedience and trust in God's promise exemplify faith in action. The second reading from Matthew's Gospel features Jesus emphasizing that entering the kingdom of heaven requires more than mere lip service. He teaches that true faith is demonstrated through deeds, using the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate the importance of a strong spiritual foundation.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust and action. In Genesis, Hagar's trust in God's promise leads her to act faithfully, returning to Sarai despite her hardships. In Matthew, Jesus underscores that faith must be lived out through obedience to God's will, not just proclaimed verbally. The connection between the two lies in the understanding that genuine faith is not passive but active, requiring us to trust in God's promises and act accordingly.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith should not be confined to words but should manifest in our actions. Like Hagar, we must trust in God's providence, even in challenging circumstances, and like the wise builder, we must build our lives on the solid rock of God's teachings. This ensures that our spiritual foundation can withstand life's storms, guiding us to live out our faith authentically and wholeheartedly.
In conclusion, today's readings teach us that true faith is not about mere profession but about living out God's will. By trusting in His promises and acting faithfully, we build a strong spiritual foundation, reflecting the wisdom of the house built on rock. Let us strive to be doers of the word, ensuring our actions align with our faith, thus embodying the essence of living faith.