Daily Readings - Wed Aug 08 2018
Jeremiah
1"At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people."2Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,3the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.4Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.5Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit.6For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"7For thus says the LORD: "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
Matthew
21And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon."23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us."24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."26And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."28Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, restoration, and the boundless reach of God's mercy. The First Reading from Jeremiah speaks to a people in exile, promising them that God's love is eternal and that He will restore them. This passage, written during the Babylonian exile, offers comfort to those suffering, assuring them that God's love endures and that rebuilding is on the horizon. The Gospel from Matthew presents a Canaanite woman whose persistence and faith lead Jesus to heal her daughter, illustrating that God's compassion extends beyond cultural and religious boundaries.
These readings connect through themes of hope and inclusion. Jeremiah's prophecy assures Israel of God's faithfulness, while the Gospel shows Jesus actively demonstrating this faithfulness to those outside the Jewish community. Both highlight that God's love is not confined but is available to all who seek Him with perseverance and faith.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's eternal love and to approach Him with the same persistence as the Canaanite woman. They remind us to remain steadfast in prayer and to embrace the inclusivity of God's mercy, recognizing that His healing and love are not limited to any one group. The moral lesson here is the power of faith and perseverance, teaching us to trust in God's abundant mercy and to welcome His work in unexpected places and people.