Daily Readings - Mon Aug 01 2022
Jeremiah
1And it happened in that year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah, the son of Azur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me, in the house of the Lord, in the sight of the priests and all the people, saying2"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon3There are still two years of days, and then I will cause to be carried back to this place all the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, took from this place and carried away to Babylon4And I will return to this place: Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and all those taken captive from Judah, who were brought into Babylon, says the Lord. For I will crush the yoke of the king of Babylon.5And Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Hananiah the prophet, before the eyes of the priests and before the eyes of all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord6And Jeremiah the prophet said: "Amen, may the Lord accomplish this; may the Lord act upon your words, which you have prophesied, so that the vessels may be carried back to the house of the Lord, and so that all those taken captive may return from Babylon to this place7Yet truly, listen to this word, which I am speaking to your ears and to the ears of all the people8The prophets, who were before me and before you, from the beginning, have prophesied over many lands and over great kingdoms, about war, and about affliction, and about famine9The prophet who has predicted peace, if his word will occur, then the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has sent in truth.10And Hananiah the prophet took the chain from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, and he broke it11And Hananiah spoke in the sight of all the people, saying: "Thus says the Lord: So shall I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, after two years of days, from the neck of all the people.12And Jeremiah the prophet went his own way. And after Hananiah the prophet had broken the chain from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying13"Go, and you shall say to Hananiah: Thus says the Lord: You have broken chains of wood, and so you will make for them chains of iron14For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have placed a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, so that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And they shall serve him. Moreover, I have given to him even the beasts of the earth.15And Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet: "Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, and so you have caused this people to trust in a lie16For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I will send you away from the face of the earth. This year, you shall die. For you have spoken against the Lord.17And Hananiah the prophet died in that year, in the seventh month
Matthew
13When Jesus had heard it, he withdrew from there by boat, to a deserted place by himself. And when the crowds had heard of it, they followed him on foot from the cities14And going out, he saw a great multitude, and he took pity on them, and he cured their sick15And when evening had arrived, his disciples approached him, saying: "This is a deserted place, and the hour has now passed. Dismiss the crowds, so that, by going into the towns, they may buy food for themselves.16But Jesus said to them: "They have no need to go. Give them something to eat yourselves.17They answered him, "We have nothing here, except five loaves and two fish.18He said to them, "Bring them here to me.19And when he had ordered the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish, and gazing up to heaven, he blessed and broke and gave the bread to the disciples, and then the disciples to the multitudes20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up the remnants: twelve baskets full of fragments21Now the number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and God's providence. The first reading from Jeremiah describes a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and Hananiah, a false prophet who falsely claims that the yoke of Babylon will be broken within two years. Jeremiah, guided by God, counters this by explaining that Hananiah's words are not from the Lord, emphasizing that true prophecy must be tested by time and fidelity to God's word. This passage underscores the importance of discernment and trust in God's timing, even when faced with false assurances.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different scenario, one of abundance and divine provision. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds, multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. This miracle is not just about meeting physical needs but also about trusting in God's providence. Just as the disciples initially saw only scarcity, we often focus on our limitations. Yet, Jesus shows that even the smallest offerings, when surrendered to God, can yield extraordinary results.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and timing. Like Jeremiah, we must discern between true and false promises, remaining faithful even when the future seems uncertain. Like the disciples, we are called to trust that God can multiply our efforts and resources beyond our imagination. In our daily lives, this means surrendering our anxieties and limitations to God, trusting that He will provide in ways we cannot foresee. May we cultivate the patience and faith to trust in His providence, knowing that He is always at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.