Daily Readings - Sat Jul 11 2020
Isaiah
1In the year in which king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, sublime and exalted, and the things that were under him filled the temple2The Seraphims were standing above the throne. One had six wings, and the other had six wings: with two they were covering his face, and with two they were covering his feet, and with two they were flying3And they were crying out to one another, and saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!4And the lintels above the hinges were shaken at the voice of the one crying out. And the house was filled with smoke5And I said: "Woe to me! For I have remained silent. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live in the midst of a people having unclean lips, and I have seen with my eyes the King, the Lord of hosts!6And one of the Seraphims flew to me, and in his hand was a burning coal, which he had taken with tongs from the altar7And he touched my mouth, and he said, "Behold, this has touched your lips, and so your iniquities will be taken away, and your sin will be cleansed.8And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send?" and, "Who will go for us?" And I said: "Here I am. Send me.
Matthew
24The disciple is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above his master25It is sufficient for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant, like his master. If they have called the Father of the family, ‘Beelzebub,’ how much more those of his household26Therefore, do not fear them. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known27What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. And what you hear whispered in the ear, preach above the rooftops28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But instead fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell29Are not two sparrows sold for one small coin? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father30For even the hairs of your head have all been numbered31Therefore, do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows32Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father, who is in heaven33But whoever will have denied me before men, I also will deny before my Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and the call to courage. The first reading from Isaiah describes a visionary experience where the prophet is awestruck by God’s glory in the temple. Overwhelmed by his own unworthiness, he is cleansed by a seraphim, symbolizing God’s grace and readiness to send him forth. This passage highlights Isaiah’s transformation from fear to mission, illustrating God’s power to overcome human limitations.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this with Jesus’ teachings to His disciples. Jesus emphasizes that following Him may lead to persecution, but they should not fear. He encourages openness and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of adversity. This passage underscores the importance of faith and courage, reminding us that our worth is in God’s eyes, not the world’s.
Both readings connect through themes of humility and trust. Isaiah’s call and Jesus’ instructions remind us that despite our fears and inadequacies, God equips us for His purposes. In daily life, this means embracing our limitations with humility and trusting in God’s grace. We are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God’s care extends to every aspect of our lives. Let us, like Isaiah and the disciples, accept God’s call with courage and trust, living as witnesses of His love and truth.