Daily Readings - Sat Jun 27 2020
Lamentations
2The Lord has swallowed up without mercy all the habitations of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers.10The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth; the young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.11My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns; my bile is poured out to the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, because infants and babies faint in the streets of the city.12They cry to their mothers, "Where is bread and wine?" as they faint like a wounded man in the streets of the city, as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom.13What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For your ruin is vast as the sea; who can heal you?14Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.18Their heart cried to the Lord. O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite!19"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street."
Matthew
5When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,6"Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly."7And he said to him, "I will come and heal him."8But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.9For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.11I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,12while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."13And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.14And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.15He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.16That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey from the depths of sorrow to the heights of hope, guided by the timeless wisdom of Scripture. The first reading from Lamentations paints a vivid picture of a people in anguish, mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophet's lament is a heartfelt cry to God, expressing the pain of a nation and the failure of its leaders. This text reminds us that suffering is an inherent part of the human experience and that even in the darkest moments, we can turn to God with our raw emotions, trusting in His mercy.
The Gospel from Matthew offers a powerful contrast, presenting Jesus as the healer who brings light into darkness. The centurion's remarkable faith stands out, as he humbly recognizes Jesus' authority and trusts in His word for his servant's healing. This encounter illustrates that faith is not about worthiness but about trust and surrender. Jesus' subsequent healings of Peter's mother-in-law and the demon-possessed demonstrate His compassion and the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, emphasizing that Jesus bears our infirmities and diseases.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own experiences of suffering and how we respond to them. Like the centurion, we are called to approach Jesus with humility and faith, trusting in His power to heal and transform. In times of pain, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus not only heals physical ailments but also touches our spirits, offering peace and restoration. Let us embrace the lesson of faith and trust, remembering that even in the midst of lament, Jesus is our hope and healer.