Daily Readings - Fri Jul 31 2020
Jeremiah
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying2"Thus says the Lord: Stand in the atrium of the house of the Lord, and speak to all the cities of Judah, from which they come to adore in the house of the Lord, all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not choose to subtract any word3So may they hear and be converted, each one from his evil way. And then I may repent of the evil that I plan to do to them because of the wickedness of their pursuits4And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, so that you walk in my law, which I have given to you5so that you listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I have sent to you, who arise while it is still night, and though they give guidance, you do not listen6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city into a curse for all the nations of the earth.7And the priests, and the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord8And when Jeremiah had completed speaking all that the Lord had instructed him to speak to all the people, then the priests, and the prophets, and all the people apprehended him, saying: "You shall be put to death.9"Why has he prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying: ‘Like Shiloh, so shall this house be,’ and, ‘This city shall be made desolate, even without an inhabitant?’ " And all the people were gathered together against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord
Matthew
54And arriving in his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, so much so that they wondered and said: "How can such wisdom and power be with this one55Is this not the son of a workman? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Therefore, from where has this one obtained all these things?57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.58And he did not work many miracles there, because of their unbelief
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the challenges of faith, prophecy, and the human resistance to God’s message. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands courageously in the temple courtyard, delivering a message of repentance to the people of Judah. Jeremiah warns them that if they do not turn away from their sinful ways, the temple—once a symbol of God’s presence—will suffer the same fate as Shiloh, which was destroyed for its corruption. The people, however, reject Jeremiah’s words and even threaten his life, revealing their stubborn refusal to listen to God’s call. This passage reminds us that prophets often face opposition when they challenge the status quo and call for conversion.
In the Gospel, we see a similar dynamic as Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. Despite his wisdom and miracles, the people are scandalized by his humble origins. They cannot reconcile the familiarity of his family with the extraordinary gifts they see in him. Their unbelief leads to their offense, and as a result, Jesus is unable to perform many miracles there. This passage underscores the truth that even the Messiah faces rejection, especially in the place where he is best known. It also highlights the importance of humility and openness to God’s surprises, as those who think they already know Jesus may miss the depth of his message.
Both readings remind us that faith requires us to let go of our preconceptions and biases. Jeremiah’s courage in the face of rejection and Jesus’ humble acceptance of his people’s unbelief challenge us to examine our own response to God’s word. How often do we, like the people of Nazareth, allow familiarity or pride to blind us to the truth? How often do we, like the people of Judah, resist the call to repentance? Today’s readings invite us to cultivate humility and openness, trusting that God’s word, even when it comes through unexpected or challenging messengers, is always for our salvation. Let us pray for the grace to listen with open hearts and to follow where God leads, even when it is difficult.