Daily Readings - Wed Jul 15 2020
Isaiah
5Woe to Assur! He is the rod and the staff of my fury, and my indignation is in their hands6I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will order him against the people of my fury, so that he may take away the plunder, and tear apart the prey, and place it to be trampled like the mud of the streets7But he will not consider it to be so, and his heart will not suppose it to be this way. Instead, his heart will be set to crush and to exterminate more than a few nations13For he has said: "I have acted with the strength of my own hand, and I have understood with my own wisdom, and I have removed the limits of the people, and I have plundered their leaders, and, like one with power, I have pulled down those residing on high14And my hand has reached to the strength of the people, as to a nest. And, just as the eggs which have been left behind are gathered, so have I gathered the entire earth. And there was no one who moved a wing, or opened a mouth, or uttered a snarl.15Should the axe glorify itself over him who wields it? Or can the saw exalt itself over him who pulls it? How can a rod lift itself up against him who wields it, or a staff exalt itself, though it is only wood16Because of this, the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones. And under the influence of his glory, a burning ardor will rage, like a consuming fire
Matthew
25At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones26Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the interplay between human pride and divine wisdom. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophetic critique of Assyria, a powerful empire that had grown arrogant in its dominance. Assyria, though a tool of God’s judgment against Israel, began to attribute its success to its own strength and wisdom rather than to God. Isaiah warns that such pride will lead to its downfall, for no created thing can exalt itself above the Creator. This passage reminds us that all human power is fleeting and that true strength comes from humility and dependence on God.
In the Gospel, Jesus offers a complementary reflection when he praises the Father for revealing divine truths to “little ones” rather than to the wise and the prudent. Here, Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility and simplicity in receiving God’s revelation. The “little ones” are those who recognize their limitations and are open to receiving wisdom as a gift from God. This passage challenges us to let go of our self-reliance and intellectual pride, trusting instead in God’s gracious plan to reveal Himself to those who are humble of heart.
Together, these readings call us to examine our own attitudes toward power and knowledge. In a world that often celebrates self-reliance and ambition, we are reminded that true wisdom and strength come from acknowledging our dependence on God. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to cultivate humility, recognizing that all we have and all we know are gifts from God. May we, like the “little ones,” remain open to His revelation and trust in His providence, avoiding the pitfalls of pride that lead to division and destruction.