Daily Readings - Fri Jun 16 2023

⁶For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you so that you would be his particular people out of all the peoples who are upon the earth⁷It is not because you surpass all the nations in number that the Lord has joined with you and has chosen you, for you are the least numerous of any people⁸But it is because the Lord has loved you, and has kept his oath, which he swore to your fathers. And he has led you away with a strong hand, and he has redeemed you from the house of servitude, from the hand of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt⁹And you shall know that the Lord your God himself is a strong and faithful God, preserving his covenant and his mercy for those who love him and those who keep his precepts for a thousand generations¹⁰and promptly repaying those who hate him, so as to utterly ruin them, without further delay, quickly rendering to them what they deserve¹¹Therefore, keep the precepts and ceremonies as well as the judgments, which I command to you this day, so that you may do them

1 John

Chapter 4

⁷Most beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God. And everyone who loves is born of God and knows God⁸Whoever does not love, does not know God. For God is love⁹The love of God was made apparent to us in this way: that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him¹⁰In this is love: not as if we had loved God, but that he first loved us, and so he sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins¹¹Most beloved, if God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another¹²No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us¹³In this way, we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he has given to us from his Spirit¹⁴And we have seen, and we testify, that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world¹⁵Whoever has confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love. And he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him

Matthew

Chapter 11

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 him²⁸Come to me, all you who labor and have been burdened, and I will refresh you²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you shall find rest for your souls³⁰For my yoke is sweet and my burden is light.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the profound themes of God’s love, humility, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us that God’s choice of Israel was not based on their size or strength but on His love and faithfulness. This passage, part of Moses’ farewell address, emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and His people, urging them to remain faithful to His commandments. The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by declaring that love is not just a feeling but the very essence of God’s nature. John writes that love originates from God, and those who love demonstrate that they are born of Him. The Gospel from Matthew complements these readings by highlighting Jesus’ humility and invitation to all who are weary to find rest in Him. Jesus emphasizes that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, contrasting the simplicity of faith with the complexities of human wisdom. These readings are interconnected in their emphasis on the relationship between God’s love and our response to it. In Deuteronomy, God’s love is seen in His covenant faithfulness and redemption of Israel. In 1 John, love is the defining characteristic of God’s nature, and it is through love that we come to know Him. In Matthew, Jesus embodies this love, offering rest to those who are burdened. Together, these readings remind us that God’s love is not something we earn but something we receive and then share with others. They also call us to humility, recognizing that true wisdom comes from God, not from human pride or self-reliance. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are challenged to live with humility and to let God’s love shape our actions and relationships. In a world often marked by division and self-interest, we are called to be instruments of God’s love, just as Jesus was. This means embracing the simplicity of faith, trusting in God’s providence, and loving one another as He has loved us. Let us reflect on how we can live out this love in our families, communities, and workplaces, remembering that God’s love is not just a feeling but a choice that transforms lives. May we, like the “little ones” Jesus speaks of, receive His truth with open hearts and find rest in His presence.