Daily Readings - Mon Jun 26 2017
Genesis
1Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,6Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.7Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.8From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Matthew
1"Judge not, that you be not judged.2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Genesis 12:1-9 narrates the story of Abram, who, at God's command, leaves his homeland, family, and everything familiar to embark on a journey to an unknown land. This act of obedience is rooted in Abram's trust in God's promise to make him the father of a great nation. The reading highlights Abram's unwavering faith and his willingness to step into the unknown, demonstrating the essence of trust and obedience in God's plan.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 7:1-5 presents Jesus' teaching on judgment and hypocrisy. Jesus admonishes us not to judge others, emphasizing that we will be judged by the same standards we use to judge others. He illustrates this with the metaphor of seeing a splinter in another's eye while ignoring the plank in our own, urging us to first remove our own faults before addressing those of others. This teaching underscores the importance of self-reflection and humility in our interactions with others.
These readings, though from different parts of the Bible, share a common theme of trust and integrity. Abram's story teaches us to trust in God's providence, even when the path is uncertain. Jesus' teaching reminds us to examine our own lives before judging others, fostering humility and compassion. Together, they call us to live with faith and integrity, trusting God's plan while striving to be better versions of ourselves. Let us embrace these lessons, trusting in God's guidance and approaching others with kindness and self-awareness.