Daily Readings - Sat Jul 28 2018
Jeremiah
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,2Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.3Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.4Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.5For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;6If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:7Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.8Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.9Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;10And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?11Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
Matthew
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our faith and actions. The first reading from Jeremiah confronts us with a call to repentance, as God urges the Israelites to turn away from injustice and corruption. Jeremiah stands at the Temple gates, a symbol of God's presence, yet the people have become complacent, believing the Temple's existence alone saves them. God warns them that true faith must be accompanied by just living, caring for the vulnerable, and avoiding false idols. The second reading, from Matthew, presents a parable about a field where both good and bad seeds grow. The master allows them to coexist until harvest, trusting in the eventual separation of wheat and weeds. This parable reminds us that God's timing and judgment are beyond our understanding.
Both readings highlight the theme of judgment and the necessity of living righteously. Jeremiah emphasizes that outward religious practices without inner righteousness are hollow, while Matthew's parable illustrates that good and evil coexist, with God's plan unfolding in His time. This teaches us patience and trust in divine providence, knowing that ultimate justice will prevail.
Applying these lessons to our lives, we are called to examine our actions and ensure they align with our faith. It is not enough to merely attend church; we must live with integrity, compassion, and justice. Let us strive to be the wheat, nurturing our faith and trusting in God's plan. As we navigate life's challenges, may we remain faithful, knowing that God will bring all things to fruition in His time.