Daily Readings - Sat Nov 30 2019
Romans
9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.13For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.18But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
Matthew
18While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.19And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."20Immediately they left their nets and followed him.21And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the transformative power of faith and the call to action it demands. In Romans 10:9-18, Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection. He underscores the importance of hearing the Word of God to ignite faith, highlighting the role of preaching in spreading the Gospel. This theological foundation is illustrated in Matthew 4:18-22, where Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Their immediate and complete response, leaving their livelihoods behind, exemplifies the active commitment faith requires.
These passages are deeply connected. Paul's words provide the theological basis for how faith is born through hearing the Word, while the Gospel narrative demonstrates the practical response to such faith. The disciples' prompt obedience shows that true faith leads to tangible actions, trusting in God's plan even when it demands sacrifice.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our own response to God's Word. Like the disciples, we are invited to trust in God's call, whether it leads to significant life changes or smaller, everyday acts of faith. The moral lesson here is clear: hearing the Word is only the first step. True faith is lived out through our actions, as we share the Gospel and embody Christ's teachings in our lives. Let us strive to be open to God's call, trusting in His plan and responding with courage and commitment.