Daily Readings - Fri Jul 19 2024
Isaiah
1In those days Hezekiah became ill and was near death. And so, Isaiah, the son of Amoz, the prophet, entered to him, and he said to him: "Thus says the Lord: Put your house in order, for you shall die, and you shall not live.2And Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and he prayed to the Lord3And he said: "I beg you, Lord, I beseech you, to remember how I walked before you in truth and with a whole heart, and that I have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept with a great weeping4And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying5"Go and say to Hezekiah: Thus says the Lord, the God of David, your father: I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your days6And I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it21Now Isaiah had ordered them to take a paste of figs, and to spread it like plaster over the wound, so that he would be healed22And Hezekiah said, "What will be the sign that I may go up to the house of the Lord?7And this will be a sign for you from the Lord, that the Lord will do this word, which he has spoken8Behold, I will cause the shadow of the lines, which has now descended on the sundial of Ahaz, to move in reverse for ten lines." And so, the sun moved backward by ten lines, through the degrees by which it had descended
Matthew
1At that time, Jesus went out through the ripe grain on the Sabbath. And his disciples, being hungry, began to separate the grain and to eat2Then the Pharisees, seeing this, said to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths.3But he said to them: "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests5Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and they are without guilt6But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here7And if you knew what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would never have condemned the innocent8For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that highlight God's mercy and the importance of faith. The first reading from Isaiah recounts the story of Hezekiah, who, faced with a terminal illness, turns to God in prayer. His sincere plea and trust in the Lord result in a miraculous extension of his life, a testament to God's compassion and response to heartfelt prayer. This story underscores the power of faith and the importance of turning to God in times of need.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a different yet complementary lesson. Jesus and his disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, which the Pharisees deem unlawful. Jesus defends their actions by referencing David's actions when he was hungry and the priests' work on the Sabbath. He emphasizes that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not the other way around, and that mercy and compassion should take precedence over strict adherence to rules. This teaching challenges us to reflect on our priorities and to act with kindness and understanding.
Both readings remind us to trust in God's mercy and to live with compassion. Hezekiah's story encourages us to pray with sincerity, knowing that God hears us. Jesus's teaching invites us to prioritize love and kindness over rigid rules. As we navigate our daily lives, may we embrace these lessons, trusting in God's grace and living with hearts full of mercy and compassion.