Daily Readings - Thu Jun 13 2024
1 Kings
41And Elijah said to Ahab "Ascend; eat and drink. For there is the sound of an abundance of rain.42Ahab ascended, so that he might eat and drink. But Elijah ascended to the top of Carmel, and bending down to the ground, he placed his face between his knees43And he said to his servant, "Ascend, and gaze out toward the sea." And when he had ascended, and had contemplated, he said, "There is nothing." And again, he said to him, "Return seven times.44And at the seventh time, behold, a little cloud ascended from the sea like the footstep of a man. And he said: "Ascend, and say to Ahab, ‘Yoke your chariot, and descend; otherwise, the rain may prevent you.’ 45And as he was turning himself this way and that, behold, the heavens were darkened, and there were clouds and wind, and a great rainstorm occurred. And so Ahab, going up, went away to Jezreel46And the hand of the Lord was upon Elijah. And cinching his waist, he ran before Ahab, until he arrived at Jezreel
Matthew
20For I say to you, that unless your justice has surpassed that of the scribes and the Pharisees you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven21You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.22But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell23Therefore, if you offer your gift at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you24leave your gift there, before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then you may approach and offer your gift25Be reconciled with your adversary quickly, while you are still on the way with him, lest perhaps the adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown in prison26Amen I say to you, that you shall not go forth from there, until you have repaid the last quarter
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust in God and the importance of right relationships. The first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of Elijah, who, after a long drought, trusts in God’s promise of rain. Despite the initial absence of any sign, Elijah persists in prayer, and eventually, the skies grow dark, and the rain comes. This passage reminds us of the importance of faith and perseverance, even when we cannot yet see the fruits of our efforts. Elijah’s trust in God’s word is unwavering, and his actions demonstrate a deep reliance on divine providence.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the interior dimensions of our faith. Jesus teaches that true righteousness goes beyond external observance of the law. He emphasizes that anger and harsh words can damage our relationships and separate us from God. Jesus calls us to reconciliation, urging us to resolve conflicts quickly and to seek peace with others before offering worship. This teaching challenges us to examine our hearts and our interactions with those around us, reminding us that our relationship with God is deeply tied to our relationships with others.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust—trust in God’s promises and trust in the transformative power of love and reconciliation. Elijah’s story shows us that trusting God can lead to unexpected and life-giving outcomes. Jesus’ teaching, on the other hand, calls us to trust in the power of mercy and forgiveness to heal our relationships. In our daily lives, we are invited to imitate Elijah’s faith and to follow Jesus’ call to reconciliation. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead is unclear? Are we willing to take the first step toward healing a broken relationship? May we cultivate the kind of trust and love that allows God’s grace to flow through us, bringing life and renewal to all we encounter.