Daily Readings - Fri Jul 15 2022
Isaiah
1In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover."2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,3and said, "Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:5"Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.6I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.21Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover."22Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?"7"This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has promised:8Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps." So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."3He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:4how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?5Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.7And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.8For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, mercy, and the essence of God's will. The first reading from Isaiah tells the story of Hezekiah, who, faced with imminent death, turns to God with a heartfelt prayer. His sincerity moves God to grant him fifteen more years of life, accompanied by a miraculous sign—the sun's shadow moving backward. This passage underscores the power of sincere prayer and God's merciful response to those who trust in Him.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a different yet complementary scenario. Jesus and his disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath. Jesus defends their actions by referencing David and the priests, highlighting that human needs and mercy should take precedence over strict legalism. He declares himself the Lord of the Sabbath, emphasizing that the law exists for the well-being of people, not the other way around.
These readings connect through their emphasis on trust and understanding God's true intentions. Hezekiah's story shows trust in God's mercy, while Jesus teaches the importance of compassion over rigid adherence to rules. In our daily lives, we are called to balance faith with action, remembering that God's laws are guides for living with love and mercy. Let us trust in God's plan and prioritize compassion, just as Jesus taught, ensuring our actions reflect the spirit of His teachings.