Daily Readings - Fri Aug 05 2022
Nahum
15Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.
2For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob as the majesty of Israel, for plunderers have plundered them and ruined their branches.
1Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder--no end to the prey!2The crack of the whip, and rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot!3Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, hosts of slain, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end--they stumble over the bodies!6I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.7And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her? Where shall I seek comforters for you?
Matthew
24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?27For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.28Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Sermon
The first reading from the Prophet Nahum paints a vivid picture of judgment and consequence. Nineveh, once a city spared by God’s mercy when Jonah preached repentance, has returned to its sinful ways. Nahum announces the fall of Nineveh, describing its corruption, violence, and bloodshed. The city, once given a chance to turn back to God, now faces devastation and ruin. This reading serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God’s call to repentance and living in defiance of His will. The prophet’s words are a call to reflect on our own lives and the choices we make, lest we suffer a similar fate.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the cost of following Him. He calls them to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, emphasizing that true life is found in losing oneself for His sake. This teaching is both a challenge and an invitation. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and attachments, recognizing that worldly gain is worthless compared to the value of our souls. At the same time, it invites us to embrace a life of self-sacrificial love, trusting that God’s plan for us is far greater than anything we could imagine.
Together, these readings remind us that our choices have consequences. Nahum’s prophecy warns us about the dangers of stubborn sin and the refusal to turn back to God, while Jesus’ words in the Gospel offer us a path of hope and transformation. As we navigate our daily lives, let us examine our hearts and actions. Are we living in a way that honors God, or are we allowing sin and selfishness to take root? Let us turn to the Lord with humility and courage, embracing the cross and following Jesus, for it is only in doing so that we will find true life and fulfillment.