Daily Readings - Sun Jul 02 2017
Romans
3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.9We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Matthew
37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.40"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.42And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Sermon
In today's readings, we delve into profound truths about our commitment to Christ and the transformative power of faith. The second reading from Romans reminds us that through baptism, we are united with Christ's death and resurrection, signifying our liberation from sin's grasp. This sacred ritual isn't merely symbolic; it's a covenant that calls us to a new life, one where we walk in the light of Christ, free from sin's dominion.
The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to prioritize our love for Jesus above all earthly ties. Jesus emphasizes that true discipleship requires carrying our cross, embracing sacrifices for His sake. This isn't about self-denial for its own sake, but about aligning our hearts with His will. The passage also highlights the importance of hospitality and compassion, even in small acts, as reflections of our love for Him.
These readings converge on the theme of commitment. Baptism in Romans is a sacramental commitment to a sin-free life, while Matthew's Gospel calls us to a radical, daily commitment to follow Christ. In our lives, this means embracing our baptismal vows anew each day and prioritizing Jesus in our decisions. It's about recognizing that every act of kindness, no matter how small, is a testament to our faith. Let us reflect on how we can live out this commitment, not just in grand gestures, but in the simple, everyday choices that reflect our love for Christ.