Daily Readings - Thu Jul 04 2019
Genesis
1After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."2He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.5Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you."6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"8Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.9When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."13And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.14So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven16and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,17I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Matthew
1And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.2And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?5For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home."7And he rose and went home.8When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Sermon
The readings today present us with powerful lessons about faith, trust, and the divine plan. In the first reading, we hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, a test of faith that has shaped the understanding of God’s relationship with humanity. Abraham, when asked to sacrifice his only son Isaac, trusts in God’s plan, even when it seems incomprehensible. This act of obedience is not just a demonstration of faith; it is a profound expression of surrender to God’s will. The story reminds us that faith is not about understanding everything but about trusting that God sees what we cannot. The ram caught in the thorns becomes a symbol of God’s providence, showing that He always provides, even in the darkest moments.
In the Gospel, we encounter Jesus, who reveals His divine authority by forgiving the sins of a paralytic and then healing his physical body. This miracle is not just about physical restoration but about the deeper healing of the soul. Jesus’ words, “Your sins are forgiven you,” scandalize the scribes because they see forgiveness as the exclusive domain of God. Yet, by healing the paralytic, Jesus demonstrates that He has the power to forgive sins and to restore both body and spirit. This passage invites us to reflect on the connection between faith and healing. Just as the paralytic’s friends trusted Jesus enough to bring him to Him, we too are called to trust in God’s power to forgive and to transform our lives.
Both readings challenge us to deepen our faith and trust in God’s plan. Like Abraham, we may face moments where God asks us to let go of what is most precious to us, not because He desires our suffering, but because He desires our complete trust. Like the paralytic and his friends, we are called to approach Jesus with faith, knowing that He has the power to forgive our sins and to heal us in ways we cannot even imagine. Today, let us ask ourselves: Where in our lives do we need to trust God more? How can we surrender to His will, even when it is difficult? May we, like Abraham and the paralytic, experience the transformative power of faith and the boundless mercy of God.