Daily Readings - Wed Jun 28 2023
Genesis
1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."2But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"3And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir."4And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."5And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."6And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.7And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess."8But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"9He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."10And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.11And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
Matthew
15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust, faith, and discernment. In the first reading from Genesis, we encounter Abram, who is struggling with doubt and uncertainty about God’s promise of descendants and land. God responds by making a covenant with Abram, using the dramatic imagery of a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between the divided animals. This ritual signifies God’s commitment to Abram, sealing the promise that his offspring will inherit the land. Abram’s faith in God’s promise, despite his doubts, is a powerful example of trust in the face of uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us about false prophets who appear harmless but harbor harmful intentions. He teaches us to discern their true nature by their actions, just as we can tell a tree by its fruit. This passage reminds us that our words and actions must align with our faith, and we must be cautious about the influences we allow into our lives. Just as Abram had to trust God’s promise, we too must trust in God’s wisdom and guidance as we navigate the challenges of discerning good from evil.
Together, these readings encourage us to live with faith and integrity. Abram’s story shows us that even in times of doubt, God is faithful and keeps His promises. Jesus’ teaching reminds us to remain vigilant and rooted in our values, so that our lives bear fruit that reflects God’s love and truth. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan for us and to live in a way that our actions and words bear witness to His presence in our lives.