Daily Readings - Tue Jul 01 2025
Genesis
15As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city."16But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.17And as they brought them out, one said, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away."18And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords.19Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die.20Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there--is it not a little one?--and my life will be saved!"21He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.22Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.23The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.24Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven.25And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.26But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.27And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.28And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.29So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.
Matthew
23And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.25And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing."26And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.27And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Lot and his family fleeing Sodom as the city faces destruction. The angels urge Lot to escape without looking back, a command his wife tragically disobeys, turning her into a pillar of salt. This story underscores the gravity of God's judgment and the importance of heeding divine warnings. The second reading from Matthew describes Jesus calming a tempest while aboard a boat with his disciples. Despite the turmoil, Jesus demonstrates his divine authority by commanding the winds and sea to still, leaving the disciples in awe.
Both narratives highlight the theme of trust and faith. In Genesis, Lot's hesitation and his wife's glance back symbolize the human tendency to cling to the familiar, even when it is sinful. Conversely, the disciples in Matthew, though fearful, turn to Jesus for salvation, illustrating the need to trust in God's power and care. These stories remind us that faith is not merely belief but also action—moving forward without looking back and trusting in God's plan, even in the face of uncertainty.
In our daily lives, we often face storms, whether literal or metaphorical. Like the disciples, we may feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, but Jesus' words, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" invite us to examine our trust in God. Like Lot, we may be tempted to hold on to what is familiar or comfortable, even when it is not in line with God's will. These readings encourage us to move forward with courage, trusting in God's providence and guidance. Let us strive to deepen our faith, knowing that God is always with us, even in the midst of turmoil, and that He will lead us to safety if we trust in Him.