Daily Readings - Sat Jun 30 2018
Lamentations
2The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.10The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.11Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.12They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.13What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?14Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.18Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.19Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
Matthew
5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.14And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful expressions of human suffering and the divine response to it. The first reading from Lamentations paints a vivid picture of the destruction of Jerusalem, with the prophet mourning the loss of the city and its people. The once-proud kingdom lies in ruins, its leaders fallen, its children perishing in the streets. The prophet cries out to God, seeking comfort and healing for a people overwhelmed by grief. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of great sorrow, we turn to God, trusting in His mercy and providence.
In the Gospel, we find a very different kind of suffering—one that is personal and intimate. A centurion, a man of authority, humbles himself before Jesus, begging for the healing of his paralyzed servant. What strikes Jesus is not the man’s power or status, but his faith. The centurion recognizes that he is unworthy, yet he trusts completely in Jesus’ word. His faith is rewarded, and his servant is healed. This story teaches us that true faith is not about what we deserve but about trusting in God’s goodness and power, even when we feel unworthy.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to suffering and hardship in our own lives. Like the prophet in Lamentations, we may cry out to God in our darkest moments, seeking comfort and healing. Like the centurion, we are called to humble ourselves and trust in God’s providence, even when the outcome is uncertain. Let us remember that our faith, no matter how small, can move mountains. May we turn to God in every trial, trusting that He will bring light out of darkness and healing to our deepest wounds.