Daily Readings - Fri Jun 12 2020
1 Kings
9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?14And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.15And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
Matthew
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound encounters with God that invite us to reflect on the nature of His presence and the depths of our hearts. The first reading from 1 Kings finds Elijah, a prophet weary and fleeing from persecution, taking refuge in a cave. There, he experiences a dramatic display of natural forces—wind, earthquake, and fire—yet God is not in these grand manifestations. Instead, God speaks in a gentle breeze, a quiet whisper that commands Elijah's attention. This moment reminds us that God often reveals Himself not in the tumultuous events of life but in the stillness, inviting us to quiet our souls and listen.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to examine the inner recesses of our hearts. He teaches that sin is not merely an external action but begins with the desires and thoughts we harbor. Looking at another with lust is adultery of the heart, and Jesus emphasizes the severity of sin by suggesting radical measures—plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand—to prevent it. This teaching underscores the importance of attending to our inner lives, recognizing that our thoughts and desires have real moral consequences. Jesus also addresses divorce, highlighting the sanctity of marriage and the need for fidelity, except in cases of unfaithfulness.
These readings together call us to a deeper interior life. Elijah's experience teaches us to seek God in the stillness, to listen for His gentle voice amidst life's chaos. Jesus' words challenge us to examine our hearts, to recognize that true righteousness begins within. In our daily lives, this means cultivating moments of quiet reflection, where we can hear God's whisper, and being vigilant against the sins that begin in our thoughts and desires. Let us strive to root out sin at its source, to cherish the sanctity of our relationships, and to listen for God's voice in the stillness, that we may live with integrity and fidelity.