Daily Readings - Thu Jul 04 2019
Genesis
1After these things occurred, God tested Abraham, and he said to him, "Abraham, Abraham." And he answered, "Here I am.2He said to him: "Take your only begotten son Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of vision. And there you shall offer him as a holocaust upon one of the mountains, which I will show to you.3And so Abraham, getting up in the night, harnessed his donkey, taking with him two youths, and his son Isaac. And when he had cut wood for the holocaust, he traveled toward the place, as God had instructed him4Then, on the third day, lifting up his eyes, he saw the place at a distance5And he said to his servants: "Wait here with the donkey. I and the boy will hurry further ahead to that place. After we have worshipped, will return to you.6He also took the wood for the holocaust, and he imposed it upon his son Isaac. And he himself carried in his hands fire and a sword. And as the two continued on together7Isaac said to his father, "My father." And he answered, "What do you want, son?" "Behold," he said, "fire and wood. Where is the victim for the holocaust?8But Abraham said, "God himself will provide the victim for the holocaust, my son." Thus they continued on together9And they came to the place that God had shown to him. There he built an altar, and he set the wood in order upon it. And when he had bound his son Isaac, he laid him on the altar upon the pile of wood10And he reached out his hand and took hold of the sword, in order to sacrifice his son11And behold, an Angel of the Lord called out from heaven, saying, "Abraham, Abraham." And he answered, "Here I am.12And he said to him, "Do not extend your hand over the boy, and do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, since you have not spared your only begotten son for my sake.13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and he saw behind his back a ram among the thorns, caught by the horns, which he took and offered as a holocaust, instead of his son14And he called the name of that place: ‘The Lord Sees.’ Thus, even to this day, it is said: ‘On the mountain, the Lord will see.15Then the Angel of the Lord called out to Abraham a second time from heaven, saying16"By my own self, I have sworn, says the Lord. Because you have done this thing, and have not spared your only begotten son for my sake17I will bless you, and I will multiply your offspring like the stars of heaven, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies18And in your offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.19Abraham returned to his servants, and they went to Beersheba together, and he lived there
Matthew
1And climbing into a boat, he crossed the sea, and he arrived at his own city2And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Be strengthened in faith, son; your sins are forgiven you.3And behold, some of the scribes said within themselves, "He is blaspheming.4And when Jesus had perceived their thoughts, he said: "Why do you think such evil in your hearts5Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk?6But, so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he then said to the paralytic, "Rise up, take up your bed, and go into your house.7And he arose and went into his house8Then the crowd, seeing this, was frightened, and they glorified God, who gave such power to men
Sermon
The readings today present us with powerful lessons about faith, trust, and the divine plan. In the first reading, we hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, a test of faith that has shaped the understanding of God’s relationship with humanity. Abraham, when asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac, trusts in God’s plan, even when it seems incomprehensible. This act of obedience is not just a demonstration of faith; it is a profound expression of surrender to God’s will. The story reminds us that faith is not about understanding everything but about trusting that God sees what we cannot. The ram caught in the thorns becomes a symbol of God’s providence, showing that He always provides, even in the darkest moments.
In the Gospel, we encounter Jesus, who reveals His divine authority by forgiving the sins of a paralytic and then healing his physical body. This miracle is not just about physical restoration but about the deeper healing of the soul. Jesus’ words, “Your sins are forgiven you,” scandalize the scribes because they see forgiveness as the exclusive domain of God. Yet, by healing the paralytic, Jesus demonstrates that He has the power to forgive sins and to restore both body and spirit. This passage invites us to reflect on the connection between faith and healing. Just as the paralytic’s friends trusted Jesus enough to bring him to Him, we too are called to trust in God’s power to forgive and to transform our lives.
Both readings challenge us to deepen our faith and trust in God’s plan. Like Abraham, we may face moments where God asks us to let go of what is most precious to us, not because He desires our suffering, but because He desires our complete trust. Like the paralytic and his friends, we are called to approach Jesus with faith, knowing that He has the power to forgive our sins and to heal us in ways we cannot even imagine. Today, let us ask ourselves: Where in our lives do we need to trust God more? How can we surrender to His will, even when it is difficult? May we, like Abraham and the paralytic, experience the transformative power of faith and the boundless mercy of God.