Daily Readings - Mon Jul 08 2019
Genesis
10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Matthew
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.23And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound moments of faith and divine encounter. The first reading from Genesis narrates Jacob's vision of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, where God reaffirms His covenant, promising Jacob the land and His presence. This pivotal moment transforms Jacob, leading him to consecrate the site as Bethel, a house of God. The Gospel from Matthew presents two miracles: the healing of a woman with a flow of blood and the resurrection of a ruler's daughter. Both instances highlight the transformative power of faith, as Jesus commends the woman's faith and restores the girl to life, illustrating His divine authority.
These readings, though from different times, share a common theme of trust in God's providence. Jacob, in his vulnerable state, trusts in God's promise, while the woman and the ruler in the Gospel demonstrate unwavering faith in Jesus' ability to heal. Their stories remind us that faith is not passive but active, requiring us to step out in trust, even in uncertainty.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to recognize God's presence and to approach Him with the same faith as Jacob, the woman, and the ruler. Whether in moments of crisis or routine, we are called to trust in God's plan and seek His healing touch. Let us, like Jacob, consecrate our lives to God, acknowledging His presence in all things. May we, with persistent faith, find strength and healing, knowing that God is always with us, guiding and sustaining us through life's journey.