Daily Readings - Fri Aug 04 2023
Leviticus
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,4"These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.5In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD's Passover.6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.7On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.8But you shall present a food offering to the LORD for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work."9And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,10"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest,11and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.15"You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.16You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.27"Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD.34"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD.35On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.36For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.37"These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day,
Matthew
54and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household."58And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on faith and community. The first reading from Leviticus details the sacred feasts of the Israelites, each a testament to God's presence and action in their history. These feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Atonement, and Tabernacles—served as moments for the Israelites to remember their liberation, the harvest, and their covenant with God. They were not just historical commemorations but living encounters with the divine, meant to sanctify and transform the people.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus returning to his hometown, where his teachings and miracles are met with skepticism. The people's familiarity with Jesus as "the son of a carpenter" leads to unbelief, limiting his ability to perform miracles. This narrative highlights the challenge of recognizing the sacred in the familiar and the prophetic in our midst. It invites us to reflect on how our own familiarity with faith can sometimes breed complacency or unbelief.
These readings remind us to maintain a sense of awe and reverence in our spiritual lives. Just as the Israelites set aside time to remember God's actions, we should regularly reflect on God's presence in our lives. Let us avoid the unbelief that hinders spiritual growth and remain open to recognizing God's work, even in unexpected or familiar places. May we embrace the sacred moments and encounters, allowing them to transform us and deepen our faith.