Daily Readings - Sat Jun 13 2020
1 Kings
16And 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 place19Therefore, Elijah, setting out from there, found Elisha, the son of Shaphat, plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. And he himself was one of those who were plowing with the twelve yoke of oxen. And when Elijah had gone to him, he cast his mantle over him20And immediately, leaving behind the oxen, he ran after Elijah. And he said, "I beg you to let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him: "Go, and turn back. For what was mine to do, I have done concerning you.21Then, turning back from him, he took a pair of oxen, and he slew them. And he cooked the flesh with the plow of the oxen. And he gave it to the people, and they ate. And rising up, he went and followed Elijah, and he ministered to him
Matthew
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not swear falsely. For you shall repay your oaths to the Lord.34But I say to you, do not swear an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God35nor by earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king36Neither shall you swear an oath by your own head, because you are not able to cause one hair to become white or black37But let your word ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For anything beyond that is of evil
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Kings 19:16b-21 tells the story of Elisha's call to prophethood by Elijah. Elisha, while engaged in his daily work, is abruptly called by Elijah, who symbolically passes on his mantle. Elisha, after a brief farewell to his family, leaves his life behind to follow Elijah, demonstrating a radical commitment to God's call. This act of surrender and trust in God's plan is a powerful example of discipleship, showing that following God requires readiness to let go of worldly attachments.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 5:33-37 presents Jesus' teaching on the importance of integrity in speech. Jesus emphasizes that our words should be truthful and straightforward, without the need for oaths. He warns against the tendency to seek validation through swearing, which can lead to insincerity. Jesus teaches that our "Yes" should mean "Yes" and our "No" should mean "No," reflecting a life of honesty and simplicity. This lesson underscores the value of living with integrity, where our actions and words align with our commitment to follow God's will.
These readings connect through the themes of commitment and integrity. Elisha's immediate response to Elijah's call mirrors the kind of wholehearted dedication Jesus expects from His followers. Similarly, Jesus' teaching on truthful speech calls us to live with authenticity, reflecting the integrity that should mark our lives as Christians. In our daily lives, we are challenged to respond to God's call with courage and to speak with honesty, ensuring that our words and actions consistently reflect our faith. Let us strive to follow God wholeheartedly and live with the integrity that honors Him.