Daily Readings - Tue Jul 02 2019
Genesis
15And when it was morning, the Angels compelled him, saying, "Arise, take your wife, and the two daughters that you have, lest you also should perish amid the wickedness of the city.16And, since he ignored them, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, as well as that of his two daughters, because the Lord was sparing him17And they brought him out, and placed him beyond the city. And there they spoke to him, saying: "Save your life. Do not look not back. Neither should you stay in the entire surrounding region. But save yourself in the mountain, lest you also should perish.18And Lot said to them: "I beg you, my lord19though your servant has found grace before you, and you have magnified your mercy, which you have shown to me in saving my life, I cannot be saved on the mountain, lest perhaps some misfortune take hold of me and I die20There is a certain city nearby, to which I can flee; it is a little one, and I will be saved in it. Is it not a modest one, and will not my soul live?21And he said to him: "Behold, even now, I have heard your petitions about this, not to overturn the city on behalf of which you have spoken22Hurry and be saved there. For I cannot do anything until you enter there." For this reason, the name of that city is called Zoar23The sun had risen over the land, and Lot had entered into Zoar24Therefore, the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah sulphur and fire, from the Lord, out of heaven25And he overturned these cities, and all the surrounding region: all the inhabitants of the cities, and everything that springs from the land26And his wife, looking behind herself, was turned into a statue of salt27Then Abraham, rising up in the morning, in the place where he had stood before with the Lord28looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and the entire land of that region. And he saw embers rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace29For when God overthrew the cities of that region, remembering Abraham, he freed Lot from the overthrow of the cities, in which he had dwelt
Matthew
23And climbing into a boat, his disciples followed him24And behold, a great tempest occurred in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with waves; yet truly, he was sleeping25And his disciples drew near to him, and they awakened him, saying: "Lord, save us, we are perishing.26And Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" Then rising up, he commanded the winds, and the sea. And a great tranquility occurred27Moreover, the men wondered, saying: "What kind of man is this? For even the winds and the sea obey him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God's providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Lot and his family being led to safety as Sodom and Gomorrah face destruction. Despite the angels' urgent warnings, Lot hesitates, revealing a mixture of faith and doubt. His wife, unable to let go of what is behind her, becomes a pillar of salt, a poignant reminder of the consequences of looking back. Meanwhile, Abraham, who had interceded for the cities, stands as a figure of hope, trusting in God's justice and mercy.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different kind of storm—this time, a tempest on the sea. Jesus, asleep in the boat, is awakened by his disciples, who are consumed by fear. With a word, he calms the winds and the waves, leaving the disciples in awe. This miracle is not just a display of power but a lesson in trust. Jesus' question, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" cuts to the heart of their doubt and ours. It reminds us that faith is not the absence of fear but the willingness to place our trust in God even when the world around us seems to be unraveling.
These readings, though separated by centuries, speak to a common truth: our faith is tested in the storms of life. Like Lot, we may hesitate or look back, fearing what lies ahead. Like the disciples, we may doubt God's presence in the chaos. Yet, in both stories, we see the hand of God at work—saving Lot, calming the sea. They remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God's plan, even when the path is uncertain. Let us, then, turn our gaze away from the chaos and fix our eyes on the Lord, who is always near, always in control. In Him, we find the peace that surpasses all understanding.