Daily Readings - Sat Jul 11 2020
Isaiah
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Matthew
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and the call to courage. The first reading from Isaiah describes a visionary experience where the prophet is awestruck by God’s glory in the temple. Overwhelmed by his own unworthiness, he is cleansed by a seraphim, symbolizing God’s grace and readiness to send him forth. This passage highlights Isaiah’s transformation from fear to mission, illustrating God’s power to overcome human limitations.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this with Jesus’ teachings to His disciples. Jesus emphasizes that following Him may lead to persecution, but they should not fear. He encourages openness and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of adversity. This passage underscores the importance of faith and courage, reminding us that our worth is in God’s eyes, not the world’s.
Both readings connect through themes of humility and trust. Isaiah’s call and Jesus’ instructions remind us that despite our fears and inadequacies, God equips us for His purposes. In daily life, this means embracing our limitations with humility and trusting in God’s grace. We are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God’s care extends to every aspect of our lives. Let us, like Isaiah and the disciples, accept God’s call with courage and trust, living as witnesses of His love and truth.