Daily Readings - Sat Jul 28 2018
Jeremiah
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:2"Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD.3Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.4Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.'5"For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,6if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,7then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.8"Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.9Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,10and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'--only to go on doing all these abominations?11Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.
Matthew
24He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'28He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'29But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and actions. The first reading from Jeremiah confronts us with a call to repentance, as God urges the Israelites to turn away from injustice and corruption. Jeremiah stands at the Temple gates, a symbol of God's presence, yet the people have become complacent, believing the Temple's existence alone saves them. God warns them that true faith must be accompanied by just living, caring for the vulnerable, and avoiding false idols. The second reading, from Matthew, presents a parable about a field where both good and bad seeds grow. The master allows them to coexist until harvest, trusting in the eventual separation of wheat and weeds. This parable reminds us that God's timing and judgment are beyond our understanding.
Both readings highlight the theme of judgment and the necessity of living righteously. Jeremiah emphasizes that outward religious practices without inner righteousness are hollow, while Matthew's parable illustrates that good and evil coexist, with God's plan unfolding in His time. This teaches us patience and trust in divine providence, knowing that ultimate justice will prevail.
Applying these lessons to our lives, we are called to examine our actions and ensure they align with our faith. It is not enough to merely attend church; we must live with integrity, compassion, and justice. Let us strive to be the wheat, nurturing our faith and trusting in God's plan. As we navigate life's challenges, may we remain faithful, knowing that God will bring all things to fruition in His time.