Daily Readings - Sat Jul 27 2024
Jeremiah
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:2"Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD.3Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.4Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.'5"For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,6if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,7then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.8"Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.9Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,10and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'--only to go on doing all these abominations?11Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.
Matthew
24He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?'28He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'29But he said, 'No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that call us to reflect on our relationship with God and our life of faith. The first reading from Jeremiah challenges us to examine the integrity of our actions and intentions. Standing at the gates of the temple, Jeremiah warns the people of Judah not to rely on the temple’s presence as a guarantee of safety or holiness. He calls them to live justly, to care for the vulnerable, and to reject false idols. The temple, he says, is not a refuge for sin but a place where God dwells among those who are faithful and upright. Jeremiah’s words are a stark reminder that our worship and devotion must be matched by our commitment to justice and holiness in daily life.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents us with a parable about the kingdom of heaven, likening it to a field where both wheat and weeds grow together. Jesus teaches that the master allows both to grow until the harvest, lest the wheat be uprooted along with the weeds. This parable invites us to trust in God’s patience and wisdom, recognizing that good and evil often coexist in this world. It reminds us that judgment is ultimately God’s work, not ours, and that our task is to focus on growing in holiness and letting God handle the rest.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not merely about words or rituals but about living in a way that reflects God’s justice and love. Jeremiah warns against complacency and false security, while Jesus encourages patience and trust in God’s plan. In our daily lives, we are called to examine our intentions and actions, to live with integrity, and to trust that God will ultimately separate good from evil. May we strive to be the wheat that grows strong and fruitful, trusting in God’s mercy and judgment, and living in a way that honors His name.