Daily Readings - Sun Jan 29 2023
Zephaniah
3Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth; you who have been working are his judgment. Seek the just, seek the meek. So then, in some way, you might be hidden in the day of the fury of the Lord
12And I will bequeath into your midst a poor and needy people, and they will hope in the name of the Lord13The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. For they will pasture and will recline, and there will be no one to strike them with terror
1 Corinthians
26So take care of your vocation, brothers. For not many are wise according to the flesh, not many are powerful, not many are noble27But God has chosen the foolish of the world, so that he may confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak of the world, so that he may confound the strong28And God has chosen the ignoble and contemptible of the world, those who are nothing, so that he may reduce to nothing those who are something29So then, nothing that is of the flesh should glory in his sight30But you are of him in Christ Jesus, who was made by God to be our wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption31And so, in the same way, it was written: "Whoever glories, should glory in the Lord.
Matthew
1Then, seeing the crowds, he ascended the mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples drew near to him2and opening his mouth, he taught them, saying3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth5Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God10Blessed are those who endure persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven11Blessed are you when they have slandered you, and persecuted you, and spoken all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake12be glad and exult, for your reward in heaven is plentiful. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the profound values of humility and trust in God. The prophet Zephaniah urges us to seek the Lord with meekness and faith, promising rest and security for those who remain faithful. This message is echoed in the Beatitudes from Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus blesses the meek, the poor in spirit, and those who endure persecution for justice. These teachings highlight that true blessedness comes not from worldly strength but from a humble and trusting heart.
The second reading from Corinthians reinforces this theme by emphasizing God's preference for the weak and humble. Paul reminds us that our glory should be in the Lord, not in our own strengths. This aligns with Jesus' message, showing that God's ways are often counterintuitive to the world's standards. Together, these readings invite us to embrace humility and trust in God's plan, recognizing that our true strength comes from Him.
In our daily lives, let us strive to embody these values. May we find joy in humility, comfort in mourning, and peace in persecution. Let us trust in God's judgment and seek His will, knowing that our reward lies in heaven. As we navigate life's challenges, may we remember that true greatness is found in meekness and mercy, reflecting the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.