Daily Readings - Mon Jun 21 2021
Genesis
1Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,6Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.7Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.8From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Matthew
1"Judge not, that you be not judged.2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful calls to faith and humility. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Abram, who is called by God to leave behind everything familiar—his land, his family, and his home. God promises Abram that he will become the father of a great nation and that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him. Abram’s response is one of trust and obedience; he departs as the Lord instructs, even though the journey is uncertain. This passage reminds us that faith often requires us to step into the unknown, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a complementary message, as Jesus teaches us about the importance of humility and self-awareness. He warns us against judging others, reminding us that we will be judged by the same measure we use to judge others. Jesus uses the vivid image of a splinter in our brother’s eye and a board in our own to highlight the hypocrisy of focusing on others’ faults while ignoring our own. This teaching challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions before presuming to correct others. True wisdom begins with self-reflection and a willingness to acknowledge our own limitations.
These readings are connected by the theme of trusting God and living with humility. Abram’s faith in God’s promise teaches us to trust in divine providence, even when the path ahead is unclear. Jesus’ teaching, on the other hand, calls us to humility and self-awareness, reminding us that we cannot guide others unless we first examine our own lives. Together, these readings invite us to embrace a life of faith and humility, trusting in God’s plan while striving to live with integrity and compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to step out in faith like Abram? And are we honest enough to recognize our own shortcomings before judging others? May we seek to follow God’s will with trust and humility, allowing His grace to transform our hearts and actions.