Daily Readings - Tue Jul 17 2018
Isaiah
1And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.2And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.3Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;4And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.5Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,6Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:7Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.8For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Matthew
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and response to God's presence in our lives. The first reading from Isaiah 7:1-9 presents King Ahaz facing an imminent threat from Syria and Israel. Despite the danger, Isaiah assures Ahaz that Judah will be protected, emphasizing trust in God's plan. This context highlights the importance of faith during crises, urging us to rely on divine providence rather than human strength.
The Gospel from Matthew 11:20-24 shifts our focus to Jesus rebuking cities that witnessed miracles yet failed to repent. Jesus contrasts their indifference with the hypothetical repentance of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, suggesting that these cities would have responded more faithfully. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring God's signs and the importance of a responsive heart.
Both readings underscore the necessity of faith and responsiveness to God. Isaiah's message encourages trust in God's promises, while Matthew's narrative warns against complacency. In our daily lives, we are called to embody this dual lesson: to trust in God's plan and to respond wholeheartedly to His grace. Let us cultivate a faith that not only endures trials but also embraces the transformative power of God's word, leading us to a life of repentance and deeper communion with Him.