Daily Readings - Sat Jun 13 2020
1 Kings
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.19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.20And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Matthew
33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from 1 Kings 19:16b-21 tells the story of Elisha's call to prophethood by Elijah. Elisha, while engaged in his daily work, is abruptly called by Elijah, who symbolically passes on his mantle. Elisha, after a brief farewell to his family, leaves his life behind to follow Elijah, demonstrating a radical commitment to God's call. This act of surrender and trust in God's plan is a powerful example of discipleship, showing that following God requires readiness to let go of worldly attachments.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 5:33-37 presents Jesus' teaching on the importance of integrity in speech. Jesus emphasizes that our words should be truthful and straightforward, without the need for oaths. He warns against the tendency to seek validation through swearing, which can lead to insincerity. Jesus teaches that our "Yes" should mean "Yes" and our "No" should mean "No," reflecting a life of honesty and simplicity. This lesson underscores the value of living with integrity, where our actions and words align with our commitment to follow God's will.
These readings connect through the themes of commitment and integrity. Elisha's immediate response to Elijah's call mirrors the kind of wholehearted dedication Jesus expects from His followers. Similarly, Jesus' teaching on truthful speech calls us to live with authenticity, reflecting the integrity that should mark our lives as Christians. In our daily lives, we are challenged to respond to God's call with courage and to speak with honesty, ensuring that our words and actions consistently reflect our faith. Let us strive to follow God wholeheartedly and live with the integrity that honors Him.