Daily Readings - Thu Jun 27 2019
Genesis
6But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.7The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.8And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."9The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her."10The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude."11And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.12He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."15And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Matthew
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,29for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us in understanding the essence of faith and action. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, who, upon becoming pregnant with Abram's child, faces mistreatment and flees. An angel appears to her, promising numerous descendants and instructing her to return to Sarai. Hagar's obedience and trust in God's promise exemplify faith in action. The second reading from Matthew's Gospel features Jesus emphasizing that entering the kingdom of heaven requires more than mere lip service. He teaches that true faith is demonstrated through deeds, using the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate the importance of a strong spiritual foundation.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust and action. In Genesis, Hagar's trust in God's promise leads her to act faithfully, returning to Sarai despite her hardships. In Matthew, Jesus underscores that faith must be lived out through obedience to God's will, not just proclaimed verbally. The connection between the two lies in the understanding that genuine faith is not passive but active, requiring us to trust in God's promises and act accordingly.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith should not be confined to words but should manifest in our actions. Like Hagar, we must trust in God's providence, even in challenging circumstances, and like the wise builder, we must build our lives on the solid rock of God's teachings. This ensures that our spiritual foundation can withstand life's storms, guiding us to live out our faith authentically and wholeheartedly.
In conclusion, today's readings teach us that true faith is not about mere profession but about living out God's will. By trusting in His promises and acting faithfully, we build a strong spiritual foundation, reflecting the wisdom of the house built on rock. Let us strive to be doers of the word, ensuring our actions align with our faith, thus embodying the essence of living faith.