Daily Readings - Sat Jul 06 2024
Amos
11"In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old,12that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the LORD who does this.13"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.14I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.15I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them," says the LORD your God.
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 powerful messages of hope and renewal. The prophet Amos envisions a future where God restores the tabernacle of David, rebuilding and cultivating the land, promising a time of abundance and peace. This prophecy speaks of a divine plan to bring prosperity to His people, emphasizing trust in God's promise of restoration. In the Gospel, Jesus uses metaphors to illustrate the newness He brings, comparing His presence to a joyful wedding and the need for new structures to hold the new wine of His teachings. He highlights that His time with the disciples is one of celebration, but also prepares them for a future without His physical presence, where fasting will have its place.
Both readings underscore the theme of renewal and the necessity of embracing change. Amos's vision and Jesus's teachings remind us that God's work is ever-evolving, requiring us to adapt and trust in His plan. Just as old wineskins cannot contain new wine, our old ways of thinking and being must give way to the new life Christ offers.
In our daily lives, this means staying open to the Spirit's leading, embracing change, and trusting in God's timing. As we face challenges, we can find hope in knowing that God is always working towards renewal. Let us remain joyful and open, allowing God to cultivate new life in us, just as He promised to restore His people.