Daily Readings - Thu Jul 30 2020
Jeremiah
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Matthew
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s transformative power and the ultimate purpose of our lives. In the first reading, Jeremiah is taken to the potter’s house, where he witnesses the potter shaping clay into vessels. This image is a powerful metaphor for God’s relationship with humanity. Just as the potter molds and reshapes the clay according to his will, God shapes and reshapes us, His people, according to His divine plan. The reading reminds us of God’s sovereignty and mercy, as He can create something new even when the first attempt does not meet His expectations. This is a message of hope and trust in God’s providence, even when life seems uncertain or broken.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses another metaphor—the net cast into the sea—to describe the kingdom of heaven. The net gathers all kinds of fish, but at the end of the age, the good are separated from the bad. This parable challenges us to consider the ultimate judgment and the call to live a life of virtue and love. The kingdom of heaven is not just a future reality but is already present in the way we live our lives today. The parable also reminds us that every scribe who is well-taught in the kingdom brings out both the old and the new, suggesting that our faith must be rooted in tradition while also being open to the fresh ways God speaks to us.
Together, these readings call us to trust in God’s transformative power and to live with purpose. Like the clay in the potter’s hands, we are called to surrender to God’s will, allowing Him to shape us into vessels of love and mercy. At the same time, the parable of the net reminds us that our choices and actions have consequences. As we navigate the complexities of daily life, we are invited to reflect on how we are living out our faith. Are we striving to be “good fish,” living in a way that reflects God’s love and justice? Let us ask for the grace to trust in God’s plan and to live each day with integrity, knowing that we are called to be instruments of His kingdom.