Daily Readings - Fri Jul 30 2021
Leviticus
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,4"These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.5In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD's Passover.6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.7On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.8But you shall present a food offering to the LORD for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work."9And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,10"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest,11and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.15"You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.16You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.27"Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD.34"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD.35On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.36For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.37"These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day,
Matthew
54and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household."58And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the importance of faith, tradition, and the challenges of recognizing God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Leviticus, we hear about the sacred feasts and rituals that marked the life of the Israelites. These feasts—such as the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles—were not just cultural traditions but deeply spiritual practices that connected the people to God’s saving actions in their history. They were moments of communal worship, gratitude, and remembrance, reminding the Israelites of their covenant with God and their dependence on Him for life and sustenance.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus returning to his hometown, where he is met with skepticism and even offense by those who knew him as a child. Despite his wisdom and miracles, the people struggle to see beyond his familiar identity as “the son of a carpenter.” This passage highlights the tension between familiarity and faith. Jesus’ neighbors fail to recognize the divine in their midst because they are limited by their own expectations and prejudices. As Jesus says, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.” Their unbelief hinders God’s work, and Jesus is unable to perform many miracles there.
These readings remind us that faith requires openness and humility. The Israelites’ feasts were rooted in a deep trust in God’s providence, while Jesus’ neighbors allowed their familiarity and pride to blind them to the truth. In our own lives, we may face similar challenges—moments when we fail to recognize God’s presence in the ordinary or when our preconceptions prevent us from embracing His grace. Let us strive to approach God with the humility and trust of the Israelites, and to see beyond the familiar to the divine that is always at work among us.