Daily Readings - Wed Aug 03 2022
Jeremiah
1"At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people."2Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,3the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.4Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.5Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit.6For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"7For thus says the LORD: "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
Matthew
21And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon."23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us."24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."26And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."28Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, restoration, and the boundless mercy of God. The first reading from Jeremiah speaks to a people in exile, offering them a vision of renewal and return. God’s promise to rebuild and restore Israel is a testament to His eternal love and faithfulness. The prophet’s words are not just a historical message but a timeless assurance that God’s mercy endures even in the darkest of times. The image of Israel as a virgin adorned with timbrels and planting vineyards symbolizes the joy and fruitfulness that come from trusting in God’s plan.
In the Gospel, we meet a Canaanite woman whose persistence and faith challenge Jesus to extend His mission beyond the boundaries of Israel. Her plea for her daughter’s healing reveals the universality of God’s mercy, as Jesus ultimately praises her faith and grants her request. This encounter reminds us that God’s love is not confined to a chosen few but is available to all who call upon Him with sincerity and perseverance. The woman’s humility and determination teach us to approach God with trust, even when the answers to our prayers are not immediately clear.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like the exiled Israelites, we may face moments of uncertainty and despair, but Jeremiah’s prophecy encourages us to hold fast to God’s promises. Like the Canaanite woman, we are called to pray with persistence and faith, trusting that God’s mercy can reach even the most marginalized. Let us open our hearts to the boundless love of God, who desires to heal and restore us all. May we, like the woman, cry out with faith, knowing that God’s grace is always within reach.