Daily Readings - Sat Jul 02 2022

¹¹In that day, I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which is fallen. And I will repair the breaches in its walls, and I will restore that which collapsed. And I will rebuild it, just as in the days of antiquity¹²so that they may possess the remnant of Idumea and all the nations, for my name has been invoked over them, says the Lord who does this¹³Behold, the days pass, says the Lord, and the plower will overtake the harvester, and the treader of grapes will overtake the sower of seed. And the mountains will drip sweetness, and every hill will be cultivated¹⁴And I will turn back the captivity of my people Israel. And they will rebuild the deserted cities and inhabit them. And they will plant vineyards and drink their wine. And they will create gardens and eat their fruits¹⁵And I will plant them on their own soil. And I will no longer root them out of their own land, which I have given them, says the Lord your God

Matthew

Chapter 9

¹⁴Then the disciples of John drew near to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast frequently, but your disciples do not fast?¹⁵And Jesus said to them: "How can the sons of the groom mourn, while the groom is still with them? But the days will arrive when the groom will be taken away from them. And then they shall fast¹⁶For no one would sew a patch of new cloth onto an old garment. For it pulls its fullness away from the garment, and the tear is made worse¹⁷Neither do they pour new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wineskins rupture, and the wine pours out, and the wineskins are destroyed. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins. And so, both are preserved.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, renewal, and trust in God's plan. The First Reading from Amos paints a vivid picture of restoration, where the tabernacle of David is rebuilt, and Israel prospers once more. This vision, born out of a time of despair, reminds us of God's faithfulness and His promise to restore His people. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who uses the analogy of the groom and new wineskins to illustrate the necessity of embracing newness. He explains that His disciples do not fast because they are in the presence of the bridegroom, symbolizing the joy and renewal He brings. These readings are intricately connected, as both point to the idea that God's plan often requires us to let go of the old to make way for the new. Amos' prophecy of restoration and Jesus' teaching on new wineskins remind us that our structures and ways of thinking must be open to transformation. Just as old wineskins cannot hold new wine, our hearts and minds must be receptive to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. In our daily lives, this means embracing change and trusting in God's plan, even when it challenges our comfort. We are called to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, allowing Him to bring new life and renewal. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we holding on to old ways that prevent us from fully embracing God's newness? Let us trust in His promise to restore and renew us, just as He has done throughout history. May we have the courage to let go and allow God to work in our lives, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him.