Daily Readings - Wed Jun 23 2021
Genesis
1And so, these things having been transacted, the word of the Lord came to Abram by a vision, saying: "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your protector, and your reward is exceedingly great.2And Abram said: "Lord God, what will you give to me? I may go without children. And the son of the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus.3And Abram added: "Yet to me you have not given offspring. And behold, my servant born in my house will be my heir.4And immediately the word of the Lord came to him, saying: "This one will not be your heir. But he who will come from your loins, the same will you have for your heir.5And he brought him outside, and he said to him, "Take in the heavens, and number the stars, if you can." And he said to him, "So also will your offspring be.6Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice7And he said to him, "I am the Lord who led you away from Ur of the Chaldeans, so as to give you this land, and so that you would possess it.8But he said, "Lord God, in what way may I be able to know that I will possess it?9And the Lord responded by saying: "Take for me a cow of three years, and a she-goat of three years, and a ram of three years, also a turtle-dove and a pigeon.10Taking all these, he divided them through the middle, and placed both parts opposite one another. But the birds he did not divide11And birds descended upon the carcasses, but Abram drove them away12And when the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a dread, great and dark, invaded him17Then, when the sun had set, there came a dark mist, and there appeared a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between those divisions18On that day, God formed a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your offspring I will give this land, from the river of Egypt, even to the great river Euphrates
Matthew
15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves16You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles17So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit18A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit19Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Genesis 15 presents Abram, who is met with a divine promise by God. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of his circumstances, Abram chooses to trust in God's plan, exemplifying unwavering faith. This trust is not passive; it is active and leads to a covenant, symbolizing God's commitment and Abram's acceptance of His will.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us to discern true followers of God by their actions, likening them to trees that bear fruit. He warns against false prophets who may appear righteous but bear no good fruit. This teaching emphasizes the importance of living out our faith authentically, ensuring that our actions reflect our beliefs.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived commitment. Like Abram, we are called to trust God even when the future is uncertain. And like the trees in Jesus' parable, our faith must produce fruit in our lives—acts of love, kindness, and justice. As we navigate our daily lives, may we strive to embody this authentic faith, discerning wisely and living in accordance with God's will.