Daily Readings - Fri Jul 12 2019
Genesis
1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.3And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:4I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.5And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:7His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.28And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.30And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
Matthew
16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;18And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.19But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.21And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and perseverance in the face of uncertainty and adversity. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Jacob, who, guided by a vision from God, embarks on a journey to Egypt with his entire family. Despite the unknowns, Jacob trusts in God's promise to make his descendants a great nation, exemplifying unwavering faith. This journey culminates in a heartfelt reunion with his son Joseph, highlighting the strength of family bonds and divine providence.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus instructing His disciples as they prepare for their mission. Jesus forewarns them of impending persecutions and challenges, urging them to trust in the Holy Spirit for guidance. He emphasizes that perseverance through trials will lead to salvation, even when facing opposition from those closest to them. This teaching underscores the importance of steadfast faith amidst adversity, reassuring the disciples of God's presence and support.
Both readings converge on the theme of trust in God's plan. Jacob's journey and the disciples' mission illustrate that faith is not about avoiding challenges but navigating them with confidence in divine guidance. In our own lives, we are called to embrace this trust, whether in personal struggles or communal hardships. Like Jacob and the disciples, we are reminded to persevere, knowing that God's Spirit will guide and sustain us. Let us draw strength from these stories, trusting in God's plan and enduring trials with faith, for it is through perseverance that we find salvation and fulfill our purpose.