Daily Readings - Sat Jul 06 2019
Genesis
1Now Isaac was old, and his eyes were cloudy, and so he was not able to see. And he called his elder son Esau, and he said to him, "My son?" And he responded, "Here I am.2His father said to him: "You see that I am old, and I do not know the day of my death3Take your weapons, the quiver and the bow, and go out. And when you have taken something by hunting4make from it a small meal for me, just as you know I like, and bring it, so that I may eat and my soul may bless you before I die.5And when Rebekah had heard this, and he had gone out into the field to fulfill his father’s order9and go straight to the flock, and bring me two of the best young goats, so that from them I may make meat for your father, such as he willingly eats10Then, when you have brought these in and he has eaten, he may bless you before he dies.15And she clothed him with the very fine garments of Esau, which she had at home with her16And she encircled his hands with little pelts from the young goats, and she covered his bare neck17And she gave him the small meal, and she handed him the bread that she had baked18When he had carried these in, he said, "My father?" And he answered, "I’m listening. Who are you, my son?19And Jacob said: "I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you instructed me. Arise; sit and eat from my hunting, so that your soul may bless me.20And again Isaac said to his son, "How were you able to find it so quickly, my son?" He answered, "It was the will of God, so that what I sought met with me quickly.21And Isaac said, "Come here, so that I may touch you, my son, and may prove whether you are my son Esau, or not.22He approached his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: "The voice indeed is the voice of Jacob. But the hands are the hands of Esau.23And he did not recognize him, because his hairy hands made him seem similar to the elder one. Therefore, blessing him24he said, "Are you my son Esau?" He answered, "I am.25Then he said, "Bring me the foods from your hunting, my son, so that my soul may bless you." And when he had eaten what was offered, he also brought forth wine for him. And after he finished it26he said to him, "Come to me and give me a kiss, my son.27He approached and kissed him. And immediately he perceived the fragrance of his garments. And so, blessing him, he said: "Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a plentiful field, which the Lord has blessed28May God give to you, from the dew of heaven and from the fatness of the earth, an abundance of grain and wine29And may the peoples serve you, and may the tribes reverence you. May you be the lord of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down before you. Whoever curses you, may he be cursed, and whoever blesses you, may he be filled with blessings.
Matthew
14Then the disciples of John drew near to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples do not fast?15And Jesus said to them: "How can the sons of the groom mourn, while the groom is still with them? But the days will arrive when the groom will be taken away from them. And then they shall fast16For no one would sew a patch of new cloth onto an old garment. For it pulls its fullness away from the garment, and the tear is made worse17Neither do they pour new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wineskins rupture, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are destroyed. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins. And so, both are preserved.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on change, tradition, and the ways in which God works in our lives. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Jacob and Esau, a tale of deception and the pursuit of blessing. Rebekah, Jacob's mother, orchestrates a plan to ensure her favored son receives the blessing intended for Esau, the firstborn. This story highlights the complexities of family dynamics and the human desire to control divine plans. The second reading from Matthew finds Jesus addressing the question of fasting. He uses the parables of the patch and the wineskins to explain that the newness of God's kingdom cannot be confined to old practices. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, Jesus' teachings demand a fresh approach to spirituality.
These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the tension between the old and the new. In Genesis, Rebekah's actions reflect a desire to redirect the course of events, while in Matthew, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of embracing change. Both stories remind us that God often works outside our expectations, challenging us to let go of familiar ways and trust in His plan. The Pharisees and John's disciples clung to traditional fasting practices, unable to see the new life Jesus brought. Similarly, Isaac's blessing was tied to the old order, yet God would use Jacob to fulfill His promises in unexpected ways.
As we apply these readings to our lives, we are invited to reflect on our own resistance to change. How often do we cling to comfortable traditions or try to manipulate circumstances to fit our desires? Jesus calls us to openness and flexibility, to recognize that His kingdom is not about preserving the past but about embracing the new life He offers. Let us ask ourselves: Are we like the wineskins, rigid and unable to hold the new wine of the Spirit? Or are we willing to be transformed, to let go of the old and receive the blessings God has in store for us? May we, like Jacob, trust in God's providence, even when the path is uncertain, and may we, like Jesus, welcome the fresh ways of the kingdom.