Daily Readings - Fri Jul 02 2021
Genesis
1Now Sarah lived for one hundred and twenty-seven years2And she died in the city of Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn and weep for her3And when he had risen up from the funeral duties, he spoke to the sons of Heth, saying4"I am a newcomer and a sojourner among you. Give me the right of a sepulcher among you, so that I may bury my dead.19So then, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the double cave of the field that overlooked Mamre. This is Hebron in the land of Canaan
1Now Abraham was old and of many days. And the Lord had blessed him in all things2And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was in charge of all that he had: "Place your hand under my thigh3so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live4But that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take a wife for my son Isaac.5The servant responded, "If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?6And Abraham said: "Beware that you never lead my son back to that place7The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there a wife for my son8But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.62Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land63And he had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar64Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the camel65And she said to the servant, "Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?" And he said to her, "That is my lord." And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself66Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done67And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death
Matthew
9And when Jesus passed on from there, he saw, sitting at the tax office, a man named Matthew. And he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him10And it happened that, as he was sitting down to eat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners arrived, and they sat down to eat with Jesus and his disciples11And the Pharisees, seeing this, said to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?12But Jesus, hearing this, said: "It is not those who are healthy who are in need of a physician, but those who have maladies13So then, go out and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the just, but sinners.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that remind us of God’s providence and the call to trust in His plan. In the first reading from Genesis, we see Abraham, now an old man, mourning the death of his wife Sarah and securing a burial place for her. This passage highlights Abraham’s faith and trust in God’s promises, even as he navigates the practical realities of life. Later, Abraham charges his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, insisting that she come from his own kindred rather than the Canaanites. The servant, entrusted with this sacred duty, places his trust in God and faithfully carries out Abraham’s instructions. This story underscores the importance of faith, trust, and obedience in our relationships and decisions.
In the Gospel, we meet Matthew, a tax collector, who is called by Jesus to follow Him. Matthew’s immediate response—leaving his post to follow Jesus—demonstrates the radical trust and surrender required to live a life of discipleship. When Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees question His actions, but Jesus responds with a profound lesson: “I have come not to call the just, but sinners.” This exchange reminds us that God’s mercy and compassion extend to all, and that we are called to imitate this mercy in our own lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God’s plan and our willingness to extend mercy to others. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead is uncertain. Like Matthew, we are invited to surrender our lives to Christ, following Him without reservation. And like Jesus, we are challenged to reach out to those on the margins, offering them the same mercy and love that God has shown us. May we, in our daily lives, strive to live with faith, trust, and compassion, knowing that God’s plan is always at work in our lives and in the world around us.