Daily Readings - Tue Mar 08 2022
Isaiah
10"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Matthew
7"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.10Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11Give us this day our daily bread,12and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,15but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God's word and the nature of prayer. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful metaphor about the reliability of God’s word. Just as the rain and snow bring life to the earth, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose and bring fruitfulness to those who receive it. This passage, written during a time of hope for the Israelites in exile, reminds us that God’s word is always effective and life-giving, even when we can’t see the results immediately.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about prayer. He warns against using many words, as if quantity would make prayer more effective. Instead, He teaches us the Lord’s Prayer, a simple yet profound prayer that reflects our dependence on God and our desire for His will to be done. The prayer also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness: asking God to forgive us as we forgive others. This teaching is central to Christian living, as it reminds us that our relationship with God is deeply tied to our relationships with others.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God’s word and to approach prayer with simplicity and trust. They remind us that our words to God don’t need to be elaborate, but they must be sincere. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s word and its power in my life? Am I praying with simplicity and trust? And am I forgiving others as I seek forgiveness from God? Let us strive to live out these teachings, trusting in God’s plan and seeking to live in harmony with His will.