Daily Readings - Fri Jun 30 2017

First Reading - Genesis 17.1, 5, 9-10, 15-22

¹And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.⁵Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.⁹And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.¹⁰This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.¹⁵And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.¹⁶And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.¹⁷Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?¹⁸And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!¹⁹And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.²⁰And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.²¹But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.²²And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

Gospel - Matthew 8.1-4

Matthew

Chapter 8

¹When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.²And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.³And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.⁴And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and God's unwavering promises. The first reading from Genesis 17 details God's covenant with Abraham, where Abram and Sarai are renamed, symbolizing a new divine relationship. Despite Abraham's doubt due to their advanced age, God assures him of a future filled with blessings, including the birth of Isaac. This passage underscores the theme of trust in God's plan, even when it seems improbable. The Gospel from Matthew 8:1-4 presents a leper who approaches Jesus with humility and faith, seeking healing. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals him and instructs him to follow the Mosaic law by presenting himself to the priest. This story highlights the power of faith and the importance of obedience, as the leper's trust in Jesus leads to his restoration. Both readings beautifully intertwine themes of faith and trust in God. Abraham's story reminds us to have faith in God's promises, while the leper's encounter with Jesus illustrates the transformative power of faith. In our daily lives, we are called to trust God's plan, even when faced with uncertainty, and to respond with obedience and gratitude when we experience His grace. Let us embrace this faith, allowing it to guide us in our walk with God, and may we, like the leper, humbly seek His healing touch in our lives.