Daily Readings - Fri Jul 07 2023
Genesis
1Now Sarah lived for one hundred and twenty-seven years2And she died in the city of Arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn and weep for her3And when he had risen up from the funeral duties, he spoke to the sons of Heth, saying4"I am a newcomer and a sojourner among you. Give me the right of a sepulcher among you, so that I may bury my dead.19So then, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the double cave of the field that overlooked Mamre. This is Hebron in the land of Canaan
1Now Abraham was old and of many days. And the Lord had blessed him in all things2And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was in charge of all that he had: "Place your hand under my thigh3so that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live4But that you will proceed to my land and kindred, and from there take a wife for my son Isaac.5The servant responded, "If the woman is not willing to come with me into this land, must I lead your son back to the place from which you departed?6And Abraham said: "Beware that you never lead my son back to that place7The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my nativity, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ himself will send his Angel before you, and you will take from there a wife for my son8But if the woman is not willing to follow you, you will not be held by the oath. Only do not lead my son back to that place.62Then, at the same time, Isaac was walking along the way that leads to the well, whose name is: ‘of the One who lives and who sees.’ For he dwelt in the southern land63And he had gone out to meditate in the field, as daylight was now declining. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw camels advancing from afar64Likewise, Rebekah, having seen Isaac, descended from the camel65And she said to the servant, "Who is that man who advances to meet us through the field?" And he said to her, "That is my lord." And so, quickly taking up her cloak, she covered herself66Then the servant explained to Isaac all that he had done67And he led her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he accepted her as wife. And he loved her so very much, that it tempered the sorrow which befell him at his mother’s death
Matthew
9And when Jesus passed on from there, he saw, sitting at the tax office, a man named Matthew. And he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him10And it happened that, as he was sitting down to eat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners arrived, and they sat down to eat with Jesus and his disciples11And the Pharisees, seeing this, said to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?12But Jesus, hearing this, said: "It is not those who are healthy who are in need of a physician, but those who have maladies13So then, go out and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the just, but sinners.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to mercy. In the first reading from Genesis, we see Abraham, a man of deep faith, navigating the challenges of burying his wife Sarah and securing a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham’s trust in God is evident as he instructs his servant to find a bride for Isaac from his own kindred, confident that God will guide the process. This story highlights the importance of faith and reliance on God’s plan, even when the path is uncertain. The servant’s obedience and the eventual meeting between Isaac and Rebekah demonstrate how God weaves together human actions to fulfill His purposes.
In the Gospel, Jesus extends mercy and compassion to those often shunned by society—tax collectors and sinners. When the Pharisees question Jesus’ association with such individuals, He responds by emphasizing that His mission is to call sinners to repentance, not to condemn the righteous. This exchange reminds us that God’s mercy is not limited to the “worthy” but is offered to all, especially those who recognize their need for healing and forgiveness. Jesus’ words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” challenge us to prioritize love and compassion over rigid adherence to rules or judgments.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to live out His mercy in our daily lives. Just as Abraham trusted God to guide Isaac’s future, we too can trust that God is at work in our lives, even when circumstances seem unclear. And just as Jesus reached out to those on the margins, we are called to extend kindness and understanding to those around us, recognizing that we are all in need of God’s grace. Let us strive to live with faith and compassion, allowing God’s mercy to flow through us to others.