Daily Readings - Wed Aug 08 2018
Jeremiah
1At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.2Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.4Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.5Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.6For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.7For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
Matthew
21Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, restoration, and the boundless reach of God's mercy. The First Reading from Jeremiah speaks to a people in exile, promising them that God's love is eternal and that He will restore them. This passage, written during the Babylonian exile, offers comfort to those suffering, assuring them that God's love endures and that rebuilding is on the horizon. The Gospel from Matthew presents a Canaanite woman whose persistence and faith lead Jesus to heal her daughter, illustrating that God's compassion extends beyond cultural and religious boundaries.
These readings connect through themes of hope and inclusion. Jeremiah's prophecy assures Israel of God's faithfulness, while the Gospel shows Jesus actively demonstrating this faithfulness to those outside the Jewish community. Both highlight that God's love is not confined but is available to all who seek Him with perseverance and faith.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's eternal love and to approach Him with the same persistence as the Canaanite woman. They remind us to remain steadfast in prayer and to embrace the inclusivity of God's mercy, recognizing that His healing and love are not limited to any one group. The moral lesson here is the power of faith and perseverance, teaching us to trust in God's abundant mercy and to welcome His work in unexpected places and people.