Daily Readings - Fri Jun 12 2020
1 Kings
9There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"11And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.12And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.13And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"14He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away."15And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.16And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.
Matthew
27"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.31"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound encounters with God that invite us to reflect on the nature of His presence and the depths of our hearts. The first reading from 1 Kings finds Elijah, a prophet weary and fleeing from persecution, taking refuge in a cave. There, he experiences a dramatic display of natural forces—wind, earthquake, and fire—yet God is not in these grand manifestations. Instead, God speaks in a gentle breeze, a quiet whisper that commands Elijah's attention. This moment reminds us that God often reveals Himself not in the tumultuous events of life but in the stillness, inviting us to quiet our souls and listen.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to examine the inner recesses of our hearts. He teaches that sin is not merely an external action but begins with the desires and thoughts we harbor. Looking at another with lust is adultery of the heart, and Jesus emphasizes the severity of sin by suggesting radical measures—plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand—to prevent it. This teaching underscores the importance of attending to our inner lives, recognizing that our thoughts and desires have real moral consequences. Jesus also addresses divorce, highlighting the sanctity of marriage and the need for fidelity, except in cases of unfaithfulness.
These readings together call us to a deeper interior life. Elijah's experience teaches us to seek God in the stillness, to listen for His gentle voice amidst life's chaos. Jesus' words challenge us to examine our hearts, to recognize that true righteousness begins within. In our daily lives, this means cultivating moments of quiet reflection, where we can hear God's whisper, and being vigilant against the sins that begin in our thoughts and desires. Let us strive to root out sin at its source, to cherish the sanctity of our relationships, and to listen for God's voice in the stillness, that we may live with integrity and fidelity.