Daily Readings - Wed Aug 03 2022
Jeremiah
1"In that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.2Thus says the Lord: "The people who had remained after the sword, found grace in the desert. Israel will go to his rest.3The Lord appeared to me from a distance: "And I have loved you in perpetual charity. Therefore, showing pity, I have drawn you4And I will build you up again. And you shall be built up, O virgin of Israel. Still shall you be adorned with your timbrels, and still shall you go forth to the singing of those who play5Still shall you plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. The planters will plant, and they will not gather the vintage until the time arrives6For there will be a day on which the guardians on mount Ephraim will cry out: ‘Arise! And let us ascend on Zion to the Lord our God!’ 7For thus says the Lord: "Exult in the joy of Jacob, and neigh before the head of the Gentiles. Shout, and sing, and say: ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!
Matthew
21And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon22And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: "Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.23He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: "Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.24And responding, he said, "I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.25But she approached and adored him, saying, "Lord, help me.26And responding, he said, "It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.27But she said, "Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.28Then Jesus, responding, said to her: "O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that very hour
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, restoration, and the boundless mercy of God. The first reading from Jeremiah speaks to a people in exile, offering them a vision of renewal and return. God’s promise to rebuild and restore Israel is a testament to His eternal love and faithfulness. The prophet’s words are not just a historical message but a timeless assurance that God’s mercy endures even in the darkest of times. The image of Israel as a virgin adorned with timbrels and planting vineyards symbolizes the joy and fruitfulness that come from trusting in God’s plan.
In the Gospel, we meet a Canaanite woman whose persistence and faith challenge Jesus to extend His mission beyond the boundaries of Israel. Her plea for her daughter’s healing reveals the universality of God’s mercy, as Jesus ultimately praises her faith and grants her request. This encounter reminds us that God’s love is not confined to a chosen few but is available to all who call upon Him with sincerity and perseverance. The woman’s humility and determination teach us to approach God with trust, even when the answers to our prayers are not immediately clear.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like the exiled Israelites, we may face moments of uncertainty and despair, but Jeremiah’s prophecy encourages us to hold fast to God’s promises. Like the Canaanite woman, we are called to pray with persistence and faith, trusting that God’s mercy can reach even the most marginalized. Let us open our hearts to the boundless love of God, who desires to heal and restore us all. May we, like the woman, cry out with faith, knowing that God’s grace is always within reach.