Daily Readings - Tue Mar 12 2019
Isaiah
10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Matthew
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11Give us this day our daily bread.12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s word and the simplicity of prayer. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a beautiful metaphor: just as rain and snow water the earth and bring forth life, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose in the world. It does not return empty but brings fruit, whether it is seed for the sower or bread for the hungry. This passage reminds us that God’s word is not just a distant promise but an active force that shapes and transforms creation.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to pray. He warns against the kind of prayer that relies on many words, as if God’s attention depends on our verbosity. Instead, Jesus offers the simple and profound prayer we know as the Our Father. This prayer is not about reciting formulas but about trusting in God’s providence. It emphasizes forgiveness as a central part of our relationship with God and with one another. Jesus makes it clear that our willingness to forgive others is directly tied to God’s forgiveness of us. This teaching challenges us to let go of grudges and to approach prayer with humility and trust.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s plan and God’s word. Isaiah assures us that God’s word is fruitful and reliable, while Jesus teaches us to approach prayer with simplicity and openness. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is not about our own efforts or words but about trusting in His love and mercy. In our daily lives, this means turning to God’s word for guidance and approaching prayer with sincerity, not just repeating formulas. It also means living out the call to forgive others, knowing that this is how we experience God’s forgiveness in our own lives. Let us strive to trust in God’s word and to pray with the humility and simplicity that Jesus teaches.