Daily Readings - Mon Aug 05 2024
Jeremiah
1And it happened in that year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah, the son of Azur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me, in the house of the Lord, in the sight of the priests and all the people, saying2"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon3There are still two years of days, and then I will cause to be carried back to this place all the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, took from this place and carried away to Babylon4And I will return to this place: Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, and all those taken captive from Judah, who were brought into Babylon, says the Lord. For I will crush the yoke of the king of Babylon.5And Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Hananiah the prophet, before the eyes of the priests and before the eyes of all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord6And Jeremiah the prophet said: "Amen, may the Lord accomplish this; may the Lord act upon your words, which you have prophesied, so that the vessels may be carried back to the house of the Lord, and so that all those taken captive may return from Babylon to this place7Yet truly, listen to this word, which I am speaking to your ears and to the ears of all the people8The prophets, who were before me and before you, from the beginning, have prophesied over many lands and over great kingdoms, about war, and about affliction, and about famine9The prophet who has predicted peace, if his word will occur, then the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has sent in truth.10And Hananiah the prophet took the chain from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, and he broke it11And Hananiah spoke in the sight of all the people, saying: "Thus says the Lord: So shall I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, after two years of days, from the neck of all the people.12And Jeremiah the prophet went his own way. And after Hananiah the prophet had broken the chain from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying13"Go, and you shall say to Hananiah: Thus says the Lord: You have broken chains of wood, and so you will make for them chains of iron14For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have placed a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, so that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. And they shall serve him. Moreover, I have given to him even the beasts of the earth.15And Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet: "Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, and so you have caused this people to trust in a lie16For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I will send you away from the face of the earth. This year, you shall die. For you have spoken against the Lord.17And Hananiah the prophet died in that year, in the seventh month
Matthew
13When Jesus had heard it, he withdrew from there by boat, to a deserted place by himself. And when the crowds had heard of it, they followed him on foot from the cities14And going out, he saw a great multitude, and he took pity on them, and he cured their sick15And when evening had arrived, his disciples approached him, saying: "This is a deserted place, and the hour has now passed. Dismiss the crowds, so that, by going into the towns, they may buy food for themselves.16But Jesus said to them: "They have no need to go. Give them something to eat yourselves.17They answered him, "We have nothing here, except five loaves and two fish.18He said to them, "Bring them here to me.19And when he had ordered the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish, and gazing up to heaven, he blessed and broke and gave the bread to the disciples, and then the disciples to the multitudes20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up the remnants: twelve baskets full of fragments21Now the number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, discernment, and God's providence. The first reading from Jeremiah presents a stark contrast between the true prophet Jeremiah and the false prophet Hananiah. While Hananiah offers a message of immediate relief and liberation from the yoke of Babylon, Jeremiah delivers a more difficult truth: the exile will be long, and the people must endure. This tension reminds us that God's timing is not always aligned with our desires, and true faith requires patience and trust in His plan, even when it is challenging.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a complementary message of trust in God's providence. Jesus, moved by compassion, feeds a multitude with just five loaves and two fish, demonstrating that even the smallest resources can be multiplied when placed in God's hands. This miracle is not just about physical nourishment but also about spiritual sustenance, teaching us to rely on God's abundance rather than our own limited vision. Just as the disciples were called to share what little they had, we too are invited to trust that our meager offerings can be transformed by God into something extraordinary.
These readings encourage us to embrace a deeper trust in God's plan, even when it seems slow or uncertain. Like Jeremiah, we must discern the truth amidst false assurances and remain steadfast in our faith. Like the disciples, we must be willing to offer what little we have, trusting that God will provide. In our daily lives, this means facing challenges with patience, seeking guidance from true sources of wisdom, and generously sharing our time, talents, and resources with others. May we learn to trust in God's timing and providence, knowing that He works all things for our good.