Daily Readings - Tue Jul 14 2020
Isaiah
1And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.2And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.3Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;4And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.5Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,6Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:7Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.8For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Matthew
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, trust, and response to God's presence. In the first reading from Isaiah, we find King Ahaz facing the threat of invasion from Syria and Israel. Isaiah, guided by God, urges Ahaz to remain calm and trust in God's plan, warning that without faith, he will not endure. This passage emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's providence amidst uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus rebukes the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their lack of repentance despite witnessing miracles. He contrasts their response with that of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, suggesting that these cities would have repented had they received similar graces. This highlights the gravity of responding to God's gifts with humility and repentance.
Both readings connect through the call to faith and responsiveness to God's presence. Isaiah's message of trust in God's plan aligns with Jesus' emphasis on repentance in the face of divine grace. In our daily lives, we are reminded to trust in God's plan and respond to His presence with humility and repentance. Let us reflect on our own faith journey, ensuring we nurture a deep trust in God and a heartfelt response to His grace.