Daily Readings - Fri Jul 20 2018
Isaiah
1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.2Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,3And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.4Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,5Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.6And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.21For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.22Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?7And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;8Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;4How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?5Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?6But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine mercy and human trust. The first reading from Isaiah recounts the story of King Hezekiah, who, faced with a terminal illness, turns to God in prayer. His heartfelt plea is met with compassion, as God extends his life by fifteen years and promises to protect him and his city. This passage reminds us of the power of prayer and the boundless mercy of God, who hears the cries of those who trust in Him. The second reading from Matthew presents Jesus defending His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, challenging the Pharisees' rigid interpretation of the law. Jesus emphasizes that human need and compassion should take precedence over strict observance of rules, citing David's actions and the work of priests in the temple as examples. He declares Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, affirming that God's laws are meant to serve humanity, not the other way around.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust in God's providence and the importance of prioritizing love and mercy over rigid structures. In Isaiah, Hezekiah's trust in God leads to healing and restoration, while in Matthew, Jesus teaches that true faith is not about following rules blindly but about responding to human needs with compassion. These stories invite us to reflect on how we approach challenges in our own lives. Do we, like Hezekiah, turn to God in times of difficulty, trusting in His plan? Do we, like Jesus, see the deeper purpose of God's laws and seek to serve others with love?
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember that faith is not about strict adherence to rules but about relationship and trust. May we, like Hezekiah, cry out to God in our struggles, confident in His mercy. And may we, like Jesus, seek to bring healing and compassion to those around us, remembering that love is the greatest commandment. Let us trust in God's plan and strive to live with hearts open to His grace and mercy.