Daily Readings - Sat Jul 08 2023
Genesis
1When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son"; and he answered, "Here I am."2He said, "Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death.3Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me,4and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."5Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it,9Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves.10And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies."15Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.16And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.17And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.18So he went in to his father and said, "My father." And he said, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"19Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me."20But Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He answered, "Because the LORD your God granted me success."21Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not."22So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."23And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.24He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He answered, "I am."25Then he said, "Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you." So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.26Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near and kiss me, my son."27So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed!28May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine.29Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!"
Matthew
14Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"15And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.16No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that, upon closer examination, reveal a common theme of transformation and the challenges it presents. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Jacob and Esau, where Rebekah assists Jacob in deceiving Isaac to secure the blessing intended for Esau. This tale highlights the complexities of human desire and the consequences of deceit, illustrating how our weaknesses can lead us astray.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus discussing fasting with John's disciples. He uses the metaphor of the groom and wineskins to convey that His teachings represent a new era that cannot be confined by old traditions. Jesus emphasizes the necessity of embracing the new, as old structures cannot contain the freshness He brings.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the interplay between the old and the new. In Genesis, the old order is disrupted by Jacob's deception, leading to a shift in the family dynamics. In Matthew, Jesus introduces a new paradigm that challenges existing practices. This duality encourages us to consider the inevitability of change and the importance of adaptability in our spiritual journey.
In our daily lives, we often face moments where we must choose between clinging to the familiar or embracing the new. The readings remind us that growth and renewal are essential, even when uncomfortable. They urge us to approach change with openness and honesty, trusting in God's plan rather than resorting to deception.
Ultimately, the moral lesson is clear: we must embrace the newness that God brings into our lives, even when it disrupts our comfort. By doing so, we align ourselves with His will, fostering a spirit of truthfulness and trust. Let us seek to be open to transformation, knowing that it is through such change that we grow closer to God.