Daily Readings - Fri Jul 20 2018
Isaiah
1In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover."2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,3and said, "Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:5"Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.6I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.21Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover."22Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?"7"This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has promised:8Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps." So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.7And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine mercy and human trust. The first reading from Isaiah recounts the story of King Hezekiah, who, faced with a terminal illness, turns to God in prayer. His heartfelt plea is met with compassion, as God extends his life by fifteen years and promises to protect him and his city. This passage reminds us of the power of prayer and the boundless mercy of God, who hears the cries of those who trust in Him. The second reading from Matthew presents Jesus defending His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' rigid interpretation of the law. Jesus emphasizes that human need and compassion should take precedence over strict observance of rules, citing David's actions and the work of priests in the temple as examples. He declares Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, affirming that God's laws are meant to serve humanity, not the other way around.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust in God's providence and the importance of prioritizing love and mercy over rigid structures. In Isaiah, Hezekiah's trust in God leads to healing and restoration, while in Matthew, Jesus teaches that true faith is not about following rules blindly but about responding to human needs with compassion. These stories invite us to reflect on how we approach challenges in our own lives. Do we, like Hezekiah, turn to God in times of difficulty, trusting in His plan? Do we, like Jesus, see the deeper purpose of God's laws and seek to serve others with love?
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember that faith is not about strict adherence to rules but about relationship and trust. May we, like Hezekiah, cry out to God in our struggles, confident in His mercy. And may we, like Jesus, seek to bring healing and compassion to those around us, remembering that love is the greatest commandment. Let us trust in God's plan and strive to live with hearts open to His grace and mercy.