Daily Readings - Wed Aug 07 2024
Jeremiah
1"In that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.2Thus says the Lord: "The people who had remained after the sword, found grace in the desert. Israel will go to his rest.3The Lord appeared to me from a distance: "And I have loved you in perpetual charity. Therefore, showing pity, I have drawn you4And I will build you up again. And you shall be built up, O virgin of Israel. Still shall you be adorned with your timbrels, and still shall you go forth to the singing of those who play5Still shall you plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. The planters will plant, and they will not gather the vintage until the time arrives6For there will be a day on which the guardians on mount Ephraim will cry out: ‘Arise! And let us ascend on Zion to the Lord our God!’ 7For thus says the Lord: "Exult in the joy of Jacob, and neigh before the head of the Gentiles. Shout, and sing, and say: ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!
Matthew
21And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon22And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: "Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.23He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: "Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.24And responding, he said, "I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.25But she approached and adored him, saying, "Lord, help me.26And responding, he said, "It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.27But she said, "Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.28Then Jesus, responding, said to her: "O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that very hour
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful expressions of God’s mercy and the boundless reach of His love. The first reading from Jeremiah speaks of a time when God will restore His people, Israel, after a period of exile and hardship. The prophet describes a future where God will draw His people back to Himself with eternal love and rebuild their lives. This passage is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, a time of great suffering and separation from the land. Yet, Jeremiah’s words are not ones of despair but of hope, reminding the people that God’s love endures even in the darkest moments. The image of Israel as a virgin adorned with timbrels and singing with joy underscores the transformative power of God’s mercy.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to a Gentile woman, a Canaanite, who approaches Jesus with a desperate plea for her afflicted daughter. At first, Jesus seems reluctant, stating that His mission is primarily to the lost sheep of Israel. However, the woman’s persistence and faith move Him to act. Her humility and trust in His power lead to a miraculous healing. This encounter takes place in the region of Tyre and Sidon, outside the traditional Jewish territory, symbolizing the expanding scope of Jesus’ mission. The woman’s faith is not deterred by initial rejection; instead, she clings to the hope that even the crumbs of God’s mercy are enough to bring healing.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on trust and perseverance in prayer. Jeremiah’s prophecy reminds us that God’s love is not confined to a particular people or time but is eternal and transformative. The Canaanite woman’s story shows us that faith can bridge even the widest divides, and God’s mercy is available to all who seek Him with an open heart. In our own lives, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the path seems uncertain. Like the Canaanite woman, we must approach God with persistence and humility, knowing that His love knows no bounds. Let us draw strength from these readings, remembering that God’s mercy is always within reach, and His love endures forever.