Daily Readings - Sat Jul 14 2018
Isaiah
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.5And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.7And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
Matthew
24"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.25It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.26"So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.27What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.32So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and the call to courage. Isaiah's vision in the temple, where he beholds the glory of God and is purified by a seraphim, marks a pivotal moment of surrender to God's will. Similarly, in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus exhorts His disciples to fear not those who can harm the body but to trust in God's providence, emphasizing the importance of openly professing faith.
The context of Isaiah's vision is set against the backdrop of King Uzziah's death, a time of uncertainty, prompting Isaiah to reflect on his own unworthiness. Yet, through purification, he is empowered to respond to God's call. In Matthew, Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges ahead, urging them to be bold and trust in God's care, knowing that even the smallest details of their lives are known to Him.
These readings unite in their call to embrace our mission with humility and courage. Isaiah's response and Jesus' teachings remind us to trust in God's providence, especially when faced with adversity. The moral lesson here is the strength found in surrendering to God's will, allowing us to overcome fear and doubt, and to live our faith openly.