Daily Readings - Tue Jul 09 2019
Genesis
22The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.23He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.26Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."27And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."28Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."29Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him.30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered."31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.32Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.
Matthew
32As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him.33And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel."34But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."35And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of transformation and call to service. The first reading from Genesis recounts Jacob's wrestling match with God, a pivotal moment where Jacob's perseverance leads to his renaming as Israel, symbolizing his transformation through faith. This event underscores the theme of trusting in God's plan, even during life's struggles.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus's ministry, where He heals a mute man and then, moved by compassion, calls for laborers to tend to the harvest. This highlights Jesus's role as a shepherd and the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Together, these readings connect the dots between personal transformation and active service, emphasizing that our faith should lead us to compassionate action.
As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded to embrace our struggles as opportunities for growth and to trust in God's guidance. Just as Jacob was transformed and Jesus called His disciples, we too are called to serve others with compassion. Let us strive to be laborers in God's harvest, trusting in His plan and actively living out our faith through service to others.