Daily Readings - Wed Jul 20 2022
Jeremiah
1The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,4Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."6Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD."9Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s call and our response to it. In the first reading, Jeremiah, a young and reluctant prophet, is called by God to speak to the nations. Despite his fears and insecurities, God assures him, “Do not say, ‘I am a boy.’ For you shall go to everyone I send you.” This passage reminds us that God’s call often comes when we feel unprepared or unworthy, but His grace is sufficient to overcome our limitations. Jeremiah’s mission is to “root up and pull down, to destroy and scatter, to build and plant,” a powerful reminder that God’s word has the power to transform and renew.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, which challenges us to consider how we receive God’s word. The seed that falls on good soil bears fruit abundantly, while the seed that falls on rocky or thorny ground withers away. This parable is not just about the soil; it is about the disposition of our hearts. Like Jeremiah, we are called to be open and receptive to God’s word, trusting that it will bear fruit in our lives. The parable also reminds us that our response to God’s word determines the depth of its impact in our lives and in the world around us.
These readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to be open to His word. Like Jeremiah, we may feel inadequate or unprepared, but God equips us for the mission He has given us. Like the good soil, we must cultivate humility, openness, and perseverance so that God’s word can take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. Let us ask for the grace to be faithful stewards of the gifts and callings God has entrusted to us, and to trust in His promise to be with us always.