Daily Readings - Wed Jun 23 2021
Genesis
1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."2But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"3And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."4And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."5And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."6And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.7And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess."8But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"9He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."10And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.11And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
Matthew
15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Genesis 15 presents Abram, who is met with a divine promise by God. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of his circumstances, Abram chooses to trust in God's plan, exemplifying unwavering faith. This trust is not passive; it is active and leads to a covenant, symbolizing God's commitment and Abram's acceptance of His will.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us to discern true followers of God by their actions, likening them to trees that bear fruit. He warns against false prophets who may appear righteous but bear no good fruit. This teaching emphasizes the importance of living out our faith authentically, ensuring that our actions reflect our beliefs.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived commitment. Like Abram, we are called to trust God even when the future is uncertain. And like the trees in Jesus' parable, our faith must produce fruit in our lives—acts of love, kindness, and justice. As we navigate our daily lives, may we strive to embody this authentic faith, discerning wisely and living in accordance with God's will.