Daily Readings - Thu Jun 27 2019
Genesis
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Matthew
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us in understanding the essence of faith and action. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, who, upon becoming pregnant with Abram's child, faces mistreatment and flees. An angel appears to her, promising numerous descendants and instructing her to return to Sarai. Hagar's obedience and trust in God's promise exemplify faith in action. The second reading from Matthew's Gospel features Jesus emphasizing that entering the kingdom of heaven requires more than mere lip service. He teaches that true faith is demonstrated through deeds, using the parable of the wise and foolish builders to illustrate the importance of a strong spiritual foundation.
Both readings highlight the theme of trust and action. In Genesis, Hagar's trust in God's promise leads her to act faithfully, returning to Sarai despite her hardships. In Matthew, Jesus underscores that faith must be lived out through obedience to God's will, not just proclaimed verbally. The connection between the two lies in the understanding that genuine faith is not passive but active, requiring us to trust in God's promises and act accordingly.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded that faith should not be confined to words but should manifest in our actions. Like Hagar, we must trust in God's providence, even in challenging circumstances, and like the wise builder, we must build our lives on the solid rock of God's teachings. This ensures that our spiritual foundation can withstand life's storms, guiding us to live out our faith authentically and wholeheartedly.
In conclusion, today's readings teach us that true faith is not about mere profession but about living out God's will. By trusting in His promises and acting faithfully, we build a strong spiritual foundation, reflecting the wisdom of the house built on rock. Let us strive to be doers of the word, ensuring our actions align with our faith, thus embodying the essence of living faith.