Daily Readings - Thu Jun 09 2022
1 Kings
41And Elijah said to Ahab "Ascend; eat and drink. For there is the sound of an abundance of rain.42Ahab ascended, so that he might eat and drink. But Elijah ascended to the top of Carmel, and bending down to the ground, he placed his face between his knees43And he said to his servant, "Ascend, and gaze out toward the sea." And when he had ascended, and had contemplated, he said, "There is nothing." And again, he said to him, "Return seven times.44And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: "Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’ 45And as he was turning himself this way and that, behold, the heavens were darkened, and there were clouds and wind, and a great rainstorm occurred. And so Ahab, going up, went away to Jezreel46And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah. And cinching his waist, he ran before Ahab, until he arrived at Jezreel
Matthew
20For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven21You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.22But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell23Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you24leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift25Be reconciled with your adversary quickly, while you are still on the way with him, lest perhaps the adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown in prison26Amen I say to you, that you shall not go forth from there, until you have repaid the last quarter
Sermon
The first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of Elijah, a prophet of God, who after a long drought, prays for rain. Despite the initial absence of any visible sign, Elijah persists in prayer, trusting in God’s promise. His faith is rewarded when a small cloud appears, signaling the end of the drought and the coming of abundant rain. This passage reminds us of the power of faith and the importance of perseverance in prayer, even when the results are not immediately apparent.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the necessity of living a life of integrity and love. He deepens the commandment against murder by emphasizing that even anger and harsh words toward others are contrary to God’s will. Jesus calls us to reconciliation and forgiveness, urging us to resolve conflicts quickly and humbly. He even suggests that if we are about to offer a gift at the altar but remember that someone has something against us, we should first go and be reconciled. This teaching challenges us to prioritize love and unity over ritual and superficial righteousness.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. Elijah’s story shows us that faith and trust in God can lead to abundant life, even in the most barren of times. Jesus’ teaching, on the other hand, reminds us that our relationship with God is deeply connected to our relationships with others. To follow Christ means to live a life of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to trust in God’s providence and to love one another as He has loved us. In doing so, we will not only deepen our faith but also become instruments of peace and healing in the world around us.