Daily Readings - Fri Jul 24 2020
Jeremiah
14Convert, O rebellious sons, says the Lord. For I am your leader. And so, I will take you, one from a city, and two from a family, and I will lead you into Zion15And I will give you pastors according to my own heart. And they will feed you with knowledge and doctrine16And when you have been multiplied and increased in the land in those days, says the Lord, they will no longer say: ‘The Ark of the covenant of the Lord!’ And it will not enter into the heart, and they will not call it to mind. It will neither be visited, nor made use of, any longer17In that time, Jerusalem will be called: ‘The Throne of the Lord.’ And all the nations will be gathered to it, in the name of the Lord, in Jerusalem. And they will not walk after the depravity of their own most wicked heart
Matthew
18Listen, then, to the parable of the sower19With anyone who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, evil comes and carries away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received the seed by the side of the road20Then whoever has received the seed upon a rocky place, this is one who hears the word and promptly accepts it with joy21But he has no root in himself, so it is only for a time; then, when tribulation and persecution occur because of the word, he promptly stumbles22And whoever has received the seed among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the falseness of riches suffocate the word, and he is effectively without fruit23Yet truly, whoever has received the seed into good soil, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, and so he bears fruit, and he produces: some a hundred fold, and another sixty fold, and another thirty fold.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of divine call, receptivity, and the fruitful living of faith. The first reading from Jeremiah invites us to a future where God's presence is universally acknowledged, transcending physical symbols like the Ark of the Covenant. This vision emphasizes a new covenant where God's leaders guide His people with wisdom, leading to a time of gathering and worship in Jerusalem. The context here is one of redemption and communal transformation, urging us to return to God with open hearts.
The Gospel from Matthew, part of the parable of the sower, shifts focus to the individual's response to God's word. Jesus illustrates four types of soil, each representing different receptivity to the divine message. The seed's fate—snatched away, lacking root, choked by thorns, or flourishing in good soil—mirrors our own hearts' conditions. This parable challenges us to reflect on how we receive God's word, whether we allow it to take root and bear fruit amidst life's challenges and distractions.
Connecting these readings, we see a harmony between communal and individual faith. Jeremiah's vision of a redeemed community is nurtured when individuals cultivate fertile hearts, as described in Matthew. This interplay calls us to examine our personal receptivity and our role within the community. The moral lesson is clear: faith requires more than hearing; it demands understanding, perseverance, and living out God's word. By tending to our spiritual soil, we can bear fruit, contributing to a community where God's presence is vibrant and transformative. Let us strive to be good soil, embracing God's word and fostering a fruitful, faith-filled life.