Daily Readings - Wed Jul 13 2022
Isaiah
5Woe to Assur! He is the rod and the staff of my fury, and my indignation is in their hands6I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will order him against the people of my fury, so that he may take away the plunder, and tear apart the prey, and place it to be trampled like the mud of the streets7But he will not consider it to be so, and his heart will not suppose it to be this way. Instead, his heart will be set to crush and to exterminate more than a few nations13For he has said: "I have acted with the strength of my own hand, and I have understood with my own wisdom, and I have removed the limits of the people, and I have plundered their leaders, and, like one with power, I have pulled down those residing on high14And my hand has reached to the strength of the people, as to a nest. And, just as the eggs which have been left behind are gathered, so have I gathered the entire earth. And there was no one who moved a wing, or opened a mouth, or uttered a snarl.15Should the axe glorify itself over him who wields it? Or can the saw exalt itself over him who pulls it? How can a rod lift itself up against him who wields it, or a staff exalt itself, though it is only wood16Because of this, the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones. And under the influence of his glory, a burning ardor will rage, like a consuming fire
Matthew
25At that time, Jesus responded and said: "I acknowledge you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones26Yes, Father, for this was pleasing before you27All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father, nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of humility, trust in God, and the dangers of pride. The first reading from Isaiah describes Assyria as a tool of God’s judgment, yet warns against the arrogance that leads to its downfall. Assyria, though powerful, forgets that its strength comes not from itself but from God. The prophet highlights the foolishness of attributing success to one’s own efforts rather than acknowledging the divine hand at work. This serves as a cautionary tale about the peril of pride and the importance of humility.
In the Gospel, Jesus praises the Father for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to the “little ones” while hiding them from the wise and the proud. This passage underscores the idea that spiritual truth is not attained through human wisdom or self-reliance but through a humble and open heart. Jesus emphasizes that true understanding comes from a relationship with God, and that no one can fully know the Father except through the Son. This teaching challenges us to approach God with childlike humility, recognizing our dependence on Him.
These readings remind us that our strength and wisdom are not our own but are gifts from God. Like Assyria, we risk falling if we trust in ourselves rather than in Him. Jesus calls us to embrace humility, to recognize our limitations, and to trust in God’s plan. In our daily lives, this means letting go of pride and self-reliance, and instead seeking to grow in faith and dependence on God. May we learn to approach Him with humble hearts, knowing that true wisdom and strength come from Him alone.