Daily Readings - Fri Jun 12 2020
1 Kings
9And when he had arrived there, he stayed in a cave. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?11And he said to him, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by. And there was a great and strong wind, tearing apart the mountains, and crushing the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake12And after the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the whisper of a gentle breeze13And when Elijah had heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, and going out, he stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there was a voice to him, saying: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" And he responded14"I have been very zealous on behalf of the Lord, the God of hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They have killed your prophets with the sword. I alone remain. And they are seeking my life, so that they may take it away.15And the Lord said to him: "Go, and return on your way, through the desert, to Damascus. And when you have arrived there, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Syria16And you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshi, as king over Israel. But Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who is from Abelmeholah, you shall anoint to be a prophet in your place
Matthew
27You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not commit adultery.28But I say to you, that anyone who will have looked at a woman, so as to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart29And if your right eye causes you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body be cast into Hell30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body go into Hell31And it has been said: ‘Whoever would dismiss his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.32But I say to you, that anyone who will have dismissed his wife, except in the case of fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever will have married her who has been dismissed commits adultery
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound encounters with God that invite us to reflect on the nature of His presence and the depths of our hearts. The first reading from 1 Kings finds Elijah, a prophet weary and fleeing from persecution, taking refuge in a cave. There, he experiences a dramatic display of natural forces—wind, earthquake, and fire—yet God is not in these grand manifestations. Instead, God speaks in a gentle breeze, a quiet whisper that commands Elijah's attention. This moment reminds us that God often reveals Himself not in the tumultuous events of life but in the stillness, inviting us to quiet our souls and listen.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to examine the inner recesses of our hearts. He teaches that sin is not merely an external action but begins with the desires and thoughts we harbor. Looking at another with lust is adultery of the heart, and Jesus emphasizes the severity of sin by suggesting radical measures—plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand—to prevent it. This teaching underscores the importance of attending to our inner lives, recognizing that our thoughts and desires have real moral consequences. Jesus also addresses divorce, highlighting the sanctity of marriage and the need for fidelity, except in cases of unfaithfulness.
These readings together call us to a deeper interior life. Elijah's experience teaches us to seek God in the stillness, to listen for His gentle voice amidst life's chaos. Jesus' words challenge us to examine our hearts, to recognize that true righteousness begins within. In our daily lives, this means cultivating moments of quiet reflection, where we can hear God's whisper, and being vigilant against the sins that begin in our thoughts and desires. Let us strive to root out sin at its source, to cherish the sanctity of our relationships, and to listen for God's voice in the stillness, that we may live with integrity and fidelity.