Daily Readings - Tue Aug 04 2020
Jeremiah
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying2"Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: You shall write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you12For thus says the Lord: "Your fracture is incurable; your wound is very serious13There is no one who may judge your judgment, so as to bandage it; there is no useful treatment for you14All your lovers have forgotten you, and they will not seek you. For I have wounded you with the strike of an enemy, with a cruel chastisement. Your sins have become hardened because of the multitude of your iniquities15Why do you cry out over your affliction? Your pain is incurable. I have done these things to you because of the multitude of your iniquity and because of your hardened sins18Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will turn back the turning away of the tabernacles of Jacob, and I will take pity on his roofs. And the city will be built up in her heights, and the temple will be founded according to its order19And praise will go forth from them, with the voice of those who play. And I will multiply them, and they will not be lessened. And I will glorify them, and they will not be weakened20And their sons will be as in the beginning. And their assembly will remain in my sight. And I will visit against all those who trouble them21And their ruler will be one of their own. And their prince will be led forward from their midst. And I will draw him near, and he will cling to me. For who is the one who applies his heart, so that he may draw near to me, says the Lord22And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Matthew
1Then the scribes and the Pharisees came to him from Jerusalem, saying2"Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.10And having called the multitudes to him, he said to them: "Listen and understand11A man is not defiled by what enters into the mouth, but by what proceeds from the mouth. This is what defiles a man.12Then his disciples drew near and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees, upon hearing this word, were offended?13But in response he said: "Every plant which has not been planted by my heavenly Father shall be uprooted14Leave them alone. They are blind, and they lead the blind. But if the blind are in charge of the blind, both will fall into the pit.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between God’s healing grace and our own need for inner transformation. In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear a message of both judgment and hope. The prophet speaks of Israel’s deep wounds and incurable fractures, caused by their stubborn sins and refusal to turn back to God. Yet, even in the midst of this suffering, God promises restoration: the tabernacles of Jacob will be rebuilt, the people will be multiplied, and their ruler will come from among them. This is a testament to God’s faithfulness and mercy, even when His people have wandered far from Him.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the Pharisees and his disciples to rethink what truly matters in living a holy life. The Pharisees are concerned with outward traditions, like washing hands before eating, but Jesus points out that it is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the heart. He emphasizes that true purity comes from within, and that outward observances are meaningless if they do not reflect a transformed heart. This teaching is a call to examine our own lives: are we more focused on appearances and rules, or are we allowing God to work deeply within us, changing our hearts and minds?
These readings are connected by the theme of healing and transformation. Jeremiah’s message of restoration and Jesus’ teaching on inner purity remind us that God is always at work to heal and renew us. However, this healing requires us to acknowledge our brokenness and to turn to Him with humble and open hearts. In our daily lives, we are often tempted to focus on external fixes or superficial changes, but the readings today call us to look deeper. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding onto sin or stubbornness? How can I allow God to heal and transform me from within? By trusting in His mercy and surrendering to His will, we can experience the restoration and renewal that only He can provide.