Daily Readings - Fri Jun 30 2023
Genesis
1When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.9And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.15And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.16I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her."17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"18And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"19God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.20As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.21But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year."22When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
Matthew
1When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.2And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."3And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.4And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and obedience. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's establishment of a covenant with Abraham, marking him as the father of many nations. Despite Abraham's advanced age and the seeming impossibility of having a child, he trusts God's promise, exemplifying unwavering faith. This covenant is sealed through the sign of circumcision, a physical reminder of God's pledge and the community's identity. The narrative also highlights Abraham's humility and acceptance of God's will, even when faced with doubt.
In the Gospel, we witness Jesus' compassionate healing of a leper. The leper approaches Jesus with humility and faith, acknowledging Jesus' power to heal. Jesus' immediate and merciful response underscores His divine authority and compassion. The instruction to show himself to the priest serves as a testament to God's work, emphasizing the importance of sharing our experiences as a form of worship and witness.
These readings connect through themes of faith and trust in God's promises. Abraham's story teaches us to trust God even when circumstances seem impossible, while the leper's encounter with Jesus illustrates the power of humble faith. Both narratives call us to obedience and using our experiences to glorify God. May we approach life with the humility and faith of the leper and the trust of Abraham, allowing God's grace to transform us and shine through us.