Daily Readings - Fri Jul 29 2022

¹In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying²"Thus says the Lord: Stand in the atrium of the house of the Lord, and speak to all the cities of Judah, from which they come to adore in the house of the Lord, all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not choose to subtract any word³So may they hear and be converted, each one from his evil way. And then I may repent of the evil that I plan to do to them because of the wickedness of their pursuits⁴And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, so that you walk in my law, which I have given to you⁵so that you listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I have sent to you, who arise while it is still night, and though they give guidance, you do not listen⁶then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city into a curse for all the nations of the earth.⁷And the priests, and the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord⁸And when Jeremiah had completed speaking all that the Lord had instructed him to speak to all the people, then the priests, and the prophets, and all the people apprehended him, saying: "You shall be put to death.⁹"Why has he prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying: ‘Like Shiloh, so shall this house be,’ and, ‘This city shall be made desolate, even without an inhabitant?’ " And all the people were gathered together against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord

Gospel - John 11.17-27 or Luke 10.38-42

John

Chapter 11

¹⁷And so Jesus went. And he found that he had already been in the tomb for four days¹⁸(Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia.¹⁹And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, so as to console them over their brother²⁰Therefore, Martha, when she heard that Jesus was arriving, went out to meet him. But Mary was sitting at home²¹And then Martha said to Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died²²But even now, I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you.²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother shall rise again.²⁴Martha said to him, "I know that he shall rise again, at the resurrection on the last day.²⁵Jesus said to her: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he has died, he shall live²⁶And everyone who lives and believes in me shall not die for eternity. Do you believe this?²⁷She said to him: "Certainly, Lord. I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who has come into this world.

Luke

Chapter 10

³⁸Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home³⁹And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word⁴⁰Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: "Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.⁴¹And the Lord responded by saying to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things⁴²And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of faith and prophecy. The first reading from Jeremiah depicts the prophet standing courageously in the Temple, delivering a message from God to the people of Judah. Despite the potential danger, Jeremiah faithfully relays God's words, urging the people to turn from their wicked ways. His prophecy warns of destruction if they do not listen, yet he stands firm, trusting in God's plan. This scene highlights the difficult role of the prophet, who must speak truth even in the face of rejection and peril. In the Gospel, we find Martha expressing her faith in Jesus when he arrives after Lazarus's death. Her statement, "I know that whatever you will request from God, God will give to you," shows her trust in Jesus's divine power. Jesus's response, "I am the Resurrection and the Life," shifts Martha's focus from mourning to hope, emphasizing that faith in him transcends even death. Martha's affirmation, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," underscores her unwavering belief. These readings connect through the theme of faith and trust in God's plan. Jeremiah's courage and Martha's belief illustrate the transformative power of faith. In our lives, we are called to trust God, even in uncertain times. Like Martha, we can find hope in Jesus's promise of eternal life. Let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide us through life's challenges, trusting in God's love and plan.