Daily Readings - Wed Jun 30 2021
Genesis
5when he was one hundred years old. Indeed, at this stage of his father’s life, Isaac was born8And the boy grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day of his weaning9And when Sarah had seen the son of Hagar the Egyptian playing with her son Isaac, she said to Abraham10"Cast out this woman servant and her son. For the son of a woman servant will not be heir with my son Isaac.11Abraham took this grievously, for the sake of his son12And God said to him: "Let it not seem harsh to you concerning the boy and your woman servant. In all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice. For your offspring will be invoked in Isaac13Yet I will also make the son of the woman servant into a great nation, for he is your offspring.14And so Abraham arose in the morning, and taking bread and a skin of water, he placed it upon her shoulder, and he handed over the boy, and he released her. And when she had departed, she wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba15And when the water in the skin had been consumed, she set aside the boy, under one of the trees that were there16And she moved away and sat in a distant area, as far as a bow can reach. For she said, "I shall not see the boy die." And so, sitting opposite her, he lifted up his voice and wept17But God heard the voice of the boy. And an Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, saying: "What are you doing, Hagar? Do not be afraid. For God has heeded the voice of the boy, from the place where he is18Rise up. Take the boy and hold him by the hand. For I will make of him a great nation.19And God opened her eyes. And seeing a well of water, she went and filled the skin, and she gave the boy to drink20And God was with him. And he grew, and he stayed in the wilderness, and he became a young man, an archer
Matthew
28And when he had arrived across the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes, he was met by two who had demons, who were so exceedingly savage, as they went out from among the tombs, that no one was able to cross by that way29And behold, they cried out, saying: "What are we to you, O Jesus, the Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?30Now there was, not far from them, a herd of many swine feeding31Then the demons petitioned him, saying: "If you cast us from here, send us into the herd of swine.32And he said to them, "Go." And they, going out, went into the swine. And behold, the entire herd suddenly rushed along a steep place into the sea. And they died in the waters33Then the shepherds fled, and arriving in the city, they reported on all this, and on those who had had the demons34And behold, the entire city went out to meet Jesus. And having seen him, they petitioned him, so that he would cross from their borders
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful stories of trust, struggle, and God’s providence. In the first reading from Genesis, we see Abraham grappling with a difficult decision involving his son Ishmael and Hagar, the mother of the child. Abraham, though deeply distressed, ultimately trusts in God’s plan and releases Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. It is there, in their moment of desperation, that God intervenes, providing water and hope for their survival. This story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God sees and hears us, and His care for us is unwavering.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of struggle. Jesus meets two men possessed by demons, and the demons, recognizing Jesus’ authority, plead with Him to spare them from torment. Jesus, in His mercy, allows the demons to enter a herd of swine, but the people of the region, fearing the power they have just witnessed, ask Jesus to leave. This story highlights the fear and misunderstanding that often accompany encounters with God’s power. Yet, it also shows Jesus’ compassion and His willingness to restore freedom to those bound by evil.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. Abraham trusted God’s promise even when the path ahead seemed uncertain. Jesus demonstrated His power to free those enslaved by sin and fear. In our own lives, we often face challenges that test our faith—moments when we feel abandoned or when God’s ways seem incomprehensible. These readings remind us that God is always present, even in the wilderness, and that His love and care for us are deeper than we can imagine. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead is unclear, and let us open our hearts to the freedom and healing that only He can provide.