Daily Readings - Mon Jul 27 2020
Jeremiah
1Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.2So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.3And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,4Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.5So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.6And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.7Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.8Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,9Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.10This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.11For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.
Matthew
31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.33Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the nature of His Kingdom. The first reading from Jeremiah presents a vivid symbolic act: a linen waistcloth that rots away, signifying the spiritual decay of Judah and Jerusalem due to their refusal to listen to God. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from divine guidance and pursuing false idols. The waistcloth, once pure and useful, becomes worthless, much like a people who reject God's word.
The Gospel, however, offers a contrasting yet complementary vision through the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven. These parables remind us that the Kingdom of Heaven begins small but grows exponentially, transforming everything it touches. Just as the tiny mustard seed becomes a shelter for birds and the leaven permeates the entire dough, our faith, though it may start as a small, seemingly insignificant act, has the power to bring about profound change in our lives and the world around us.
These readings together call us to a life of faith and fidelity. While Jeremiah warns us of the dangers of spiritual complacency and rebellion, Matthew encourages us to trust in the transformative power of God's grace. In our daily lives, we are invited to nurture our faith like the mustard seed and allow the leaven of God's love to work through us. Let us listen to God's word with open hearts, allowing it to guide us away from the path of decay and toward the path of growth, hope, and abundant life in His Kingdom.