Daily Readings - Fri Aug 04 2017
First Reading - Leviticus 23.1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37
Leviticus
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
Gospel - Matthew 13.54-58
Matthew
And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through sacred rituals and a poignant moment of rejection, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with the divine and our communities. The first reading from Leviticus details the feasts of the Lord, each a testament to Israel's covenant with God. These feasts were not mere events but communal acts of remembrance and celebration, grounding the people in their history and faith. They were times to pause, reflect, and reconnect with God's presence in their lives.
In the Gospel, we find Jesus in His hometown, where His wisdom and miracles amaze yet also offend. The familiarity of His presence leads to skepticism, a stark contrast to the sacred gatherings in Leviticus. Here, the sacred is overlooked because it is too familiar, highlighting a human tendency to undervalue what is closest to us. Jesus' experience reminds us that faith often falters when the divine is clothed in the ordinary.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we perceive the sacred in our lives. Do we, like the people of Nazareth, allow familiarity to blind us to God's presence? Or do we, like the Israelites, embrace moments of communal reflection and celebration? Let us cultivate faith that sees beyond the ordinary, recognizing the divine in our midst. May we approach each day with openness, allowing God's presence to transform our lives, even in the most familiar of places.