Daily Readings - Wed Jul 17 2024
Isaiah
5Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!6Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.7But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;13For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.14My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped."15Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!16Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.
Matthew
25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on human pride and the wisdom of humility. The first reading from Isaiah describes Assyria as a tool of God’s judgment, yet Assyria’s downfall comes from its own arrogance. Assyria, once an instrument of divine punishment, forgets that its power comes not from itself but from God. The prophet warns that when we attribute our successes solely to our own strength and wisdom, we risk losing sight of God’s sovereignty. This passage reminds us that all human achievements, no matter how impressive, are fleeting and subject to God’s judgment.
The Gospel reading offers a striking contrast. Jesus praises the Father for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom not to the wise and powerful but to the “little ones.” This is a recurring theme in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus emphasizes that true wisdom comes not from human pride or self-reliance but from humility and openness to God. The passage underscores the idea that spiritual truth is not reserved for the privileged or the self-important but is accessible to those who approach God with childlike simplicity and trust.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and our place in the world. Like Assyria, we may be tempted to trust in our own strength and forget the source of our blessings. Yet, Jesus calls us to a different path: one of humility, gratitude, and reliance on God. In our daily lives, let us strive to cultivate this humility, recognizing that true wisdom and strength come not from ourselves but from the Lord. May we, like the “little ones,” remain open to God’s revelation and trust in His providence, even when the world around us seems to glorify power and self-reliance.