Daily Readings - Wed Jun 08 2022
1 Kings
20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.22Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.23Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it.24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it."26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."28And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.29And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.30Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, "Israel shall be your name,"32and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.33And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."34And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time.35And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.36And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God."
Matthew
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.19Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on faith, trust, and adherence to God's will. The first reading from 1 Kings recounts Elijah's bold challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elijah, undaunted by the overwhelming odds, trusts in God's power, setting up a contest where fire from heaven miraculously consumes his sacrifice, proving the Lord's supremacy. This dramatic event underscores the importance of unwavering faith and trust in God's plan.
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the enduring nature of the law, clarifying that he came not to abolish but to fulfill it. He stresses that every part of the law remains significant until all is accomplished. This teaching highlights the importance of respecting and following God's commandments, recognizing their timeless relevance and guidance for a righteous life.
These readings remind us of the need for integrity and faithfulness in our daily lives. Like Elijah, we must trust in God's power and remain committed to His cause, even in challenging times. Jesus teaches us that living according to God's commandments is essential, reflecting a life of integrity and alignment with His will. May we draw inspiration from these lessons, deepening our faith and commitment to God's teachings in our everyday lives.