Daily Readings - Fri Aug 02 2024
Jeremiah
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:2"Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.3It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.4You shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,5and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened,6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.'"7The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.8And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die!9Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant'?" And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Matthew
54and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household."58And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments where God’s messengers face rejection. The first reading from Jeremiah depicts the prophet standing in the temple courtyard, delivering a stern warning to the people of Judah. He calls them to repentance, urging them to turn away from their sinful ways. However, his message is met with hostility, and the people, including the priests and prophets, seek to kill him. This reaction underscores the human tendency to resist uncomfortable truths, especially when they challenge our complacency.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a similar theme of rejection, this time involving Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth. Despite His wisdom and miracles, the people are skeptical because they know Him as the son of a carpenter. Their familiarity with His humble origins blinds them to His divine mission, leading to unbelief. Jesus’ statement that a prophet is without honor in His own country highlights the difficulty of receiving truth from one who is close to us.
These readings remind us that faith requires humility and openness. Like the people in Jeremiah’s time and Jesus’ hometown, we may resist God’s message when it challenges our perceptions or comforts. Let us reflect on our own response to God’s word. Do we allow pride or familiarity to harden our hearts? Let us pray for the grace to receive God’s truth with humility, embracing the call to conversion and growth in our daily lives.