Daily Readings - Tue Jul 17 2018
Isaiah
1In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it.2When the house of David was told, "Syria is in league with Ephraim," the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.3And the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field.4And say to him, 'Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.5Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying,6"Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,"7thus says the Lord GOD: "'It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.8For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin.(Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces so that it will no longer be a people.)9"'And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.'"
Matthew
20Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.21"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and response to God's presence in our lives. The first reading from Isaiah 7:1-9 presents King Ahaz facing an imminent threat from Syria and Israel. Despite the danger, Isaiah assures Ahaz that Judah will be protected, emphasizing trust in God's plan. This context highlights the importance of faith during crises, urging us to rely on divine providence rather than human strength.
The Gospel from Matthew 11:20-24 shifts our focus to Jesus rebuking cities that witnessed miracles yet failed to repent. Jesus contrasts their indifference with the hypothetical repentance of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, suggesting that these cities would have responded more faithfully. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring God's signs and the importance of a responsive heart.
Both readings underscore the necessity of faith and responsiveness to God. Isaiah's message encourages trust in God's promises, while Matthew's narrative warns against complacency. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this dual lesson: to trust in God's plan and to respond wholeheartedly to His grace. Let us cultivate a faith that not only endures trials but also embraces the transformative power of God's word, leading us to a life of repentance and deeper communion with Him.