Daily Readings - Wed Jul 24 2024
Jeremiah
1The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,4Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."6Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD."9Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine call and response. The first reading from Jeremiah recounts the prophet's humble beginnings and his initial hesitation when called by God. Despite feeling inadequate as "just a boy," Jeremiah is reassured by God, who promises to be with him and to place His words in his mouth. This passage underscores God's trust in us, even when we feel unprepared or unworthy.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the sower, which invites us to reflect on how we receive God's word. The seeds that fall on fertile soil produce abundant fruit, while those on rocky or thorny ground do not. This parable challenges us to consider the condition of our hearts and our willingness to nurture God's message in our lives.
These readings are intricately connected. Jeremiah's call to speak God's word and the parable of the sower both emphasize our role as recipients and responders to God's message. Just as Jeremiah was called to proclaim, we are called to listen and receive with open hearts. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan and cultivate a heart that is receptive and fertile ground for His word.
As we apply this to our daily lives, let us reflect on our receptiveness to God's message. Do we allow His word to take root, or do we let distractions or hardness of heart hinder its growth? Let us strive to be like the fertile soil, bearing fruit abundantly. May we trust in God's presence and guidance, just as Jeremiah did, and may our hearts remain open to the seeds of faith, hope, and love that God sows in us.