Daily Readings - Wed Jul 17 2024
Isaiah
5Woe to Assur! He is the rod and the staff of my fury, and my indignation is in their hands6I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will order him against the people of my fury, so that he may take away the plunder, and tear apart the prey, and place it to be trampled like the mud of the streets7But he will not consider it to be so, and his heart will not suppose it to be this way. Instead, his heart will be set to crush and to exterminate more than a few nations13For he has said: "I have acted with the strength of my own hand, and I have understood with my own wisdom, and I have removed the limits of the people, and I have plundered their leaders, and, like one with power, I have pulled down those residing on high14And my hand has reached to the strength of the people, as to a nest. And, just as the eggs which have been left behind are gathered, so have I gathered the entire earth. And there was no one who moved a wing, or opened a mouth, or uttered a snarl.15Should the axe glorify itself over him who wields it? Or can the saw exalt itself over him who pulls it? How can a rod lift itself up against him who wields it, or a staff exalt itself, though it is only wood16Because of this, the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send leanness among his fat ones. And under the influence of his glory, a burning ardor will rage, like a consuming fire
Matthew
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 him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on human pride and the wisdom of humility. The first reading from Isaiah describes Assyria as a tool of God’s judgment, yet Assyria’s downfall comes from its own arrogance. Assyria, once an instrument of divine punishment, forgets that its power comes not from itself but from God. The prophet warns that when we attribute our successes solely to our own strength and wisdom, we risk losing sight of God’s sovereignty. This passage reminds us that all human achievements, no matter how impressive, are fleeting and subject to God’s judgment.
The Gospel reading offers a striking contrast. Jesus praises the Father for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom not to the wise and powerful but to the “little ones.” This is a recurring theme in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus emphasizes that true wisdom comes not from human pride or self-reliance but from humility and openness to God. The passage underscores the idea that spiritual truth is not reserved for the privileged or the self-important but is accessible to those who approach God with childlike simplicity and trust.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and our place in the world. Like Assyria, we may be tempted to trust in our own strength and forget the source of our blessings. Yet, Jesus calls us to a different path: one of humility, gratitude, and reliance on God. In our daily lives, let us strive to cultivate this humility, recognizing that true wisdom and strength come not from ourselves but from the Lord. May we, like the “little ones,” remain open to God’s revelation and trust in His providence, even when the world around us seems to glorify power and self-reliance.