Daily Readings - Sat Jun 15 2024
1 Kings
16And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.20And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"21And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Matthew
33"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'34But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.36And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.37Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons on faith and integrity. The first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of Elisha's call to prophethood by Elijah. Elisha, a humble farmer, is called while working in the fields. His immediate response, leaving behind his oxen and family to follow Elijah, exemplifies unwavering obedience and trust in God's plan. This act of faith is a testament to the transformative power of heeding God's call, even when it requires significant sacrifice.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the importance of truthful speech. Jesus emphasizes that our words should be our bond—yes should mean yes, and no should mean no. He warns against the temptation to embellish our promises with oaths, which can lead to deceit. This teaching underscores the value of integrity in our daily interactions, urging us to cultivate honesty and simplicity in our communication.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to God's call and how we interact with others. Elisha's prompt obedience challenges us to be attentive to God's voice and courageous in following His will. Jesus' teaching on truthful speech reminds us that our words have the power to build trust and foster genuine relationships. As we navigate our daily lives, may we strive to live with the same faith and integrity, responding wholeheartedly to God's call and speaking with truth and sincerity. Let us pray for the grace to live authentically, reflecting God's love in all we do.