Daily Readings - Fri Jul 24 2020
Jeremiah
14Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:15And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.16And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.17At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Matthew
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of divine call, receptivity, and the fruitful living of faith. The first reading from Jeremiah invites us to a future where God's presence is universally acknowledged, transcending physical symbols like the Ark of the Covenant. This vision emphasizes a new covenant where God's leaders guide His people with wisdom, leading to a time of gathering and worship in Jerusalem. The context here is one of redemption and communal transformation, urging us to return to God with open hearts.
The Gospel from Matthew, part of the parable of the sower, shifts focus to the individual's response to God's word. Jesus illustrates four types of soil, each representing different receptivity to the divine message. The seed's fate—snatched away, lacking root, choked by thorns, or flourishing in good soil—mirrors our own hearts' conditions. This parable challenges us to reflect on how we receive God's word, whether we allow it to take root and bear fruit amidst life's challenges and distractions.
Connecting these readings, we see a harmony between communal and individual faith. Jeremiah's vision of a redeemed community is nurtured when individuals cultivate fertile hearts, as described in Matthew. This interplay calls us to examine our personal receptivity and our role within the community. The moral lesson is clear: faith requires more than hearing; it demands understanding, perseverance, and living out God's word. By tending to our spiritual soil, we can bear fruit, contributing to a community where God's presence is vibrant and transformative. Let us strive to be good soil, embracing God's word and fostering a fruitful, faith-filled life.