Daily Readings - Fri Aug 03 2018
Jeremiah
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,2Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:3If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.4And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,5To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;6Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.7So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.8Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.9Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Matthew
54And 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?55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?57And 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.58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful moments of prophetic witness, each highlighting the challenges of speaking God’s truth to those who are unwilling to hear it. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands courageously in the Temple courtyard, delivering a message of repentance to the people of Judah. He warns them that if they do not turn away from their sinful ways, the Temple will suffer the same fate as Shiloh, which was destroyed for its corruption. Despite the urgency of his message, Jeremiah faces fierce resistance, and the people even threaten his life. This passage reminds us that proclaiming God’s truth often comes at a cost, and it requires unwavering faith and courage.
In the Gospel, we see a similar dynamic as Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. Though he teaches with wisdom and authority, the people are scandalized because they know him as the son of a carpenter. Their familiarity with him breeds contempt, and they refuse to accept his divine mission. Jesus responds by noting that a prophet is often rejected in his own home, and as a result, he works few miracles there due to their lack of faith. This passage invites us to reflect on our own openness to God’s presence in our lives. How often do we fail to recognize the divine truth in front of us because of our preconceptions or pride?
Both readings challenge us to examine our own hearts and minds. Are we open to hearing God’s word, even when it comes through unexpected or unwelcome messengers? Do we allow our familiarity with others or our own biases to blind us to the truth? The moral lesson here is clear: humility and faith are essential for receiving God’s grace. Like Jeremiah, we must be willing to stand firm in our commitment to God’s truth, even in the face of opposition. And like the people of Nazareth, we must guard against the temptation to dismiss or reject what God is doing in our midst. Let us pray for the grace to be open, humble, and faithful in our daily lives.