Daily Readings - Fri Jul 31 2020
Jeremiah
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,2Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:3If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.4And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,5To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;6Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.7So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.8Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.9Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Matthew
54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the challenges of faith, prophecy, and the human resistance to God’s message. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands courageously in the temple courtyard, delivering a message of repentance to the people of Judah. Jeremiah warns them that if they do not turn away from their sinful ways, the temple—once a symbol of God’s presence—will suffer the same fate as Shiloh, which was destroyed for its corruption. The people, however, reject Jeremiah’s words and even threaten his life, revealing their stubborn refusal to listen to God’s call. This passage reminds us that prophets often face opposition when they challenge the status quo and call for conversion.
In the Gospel, we see a similar dynamic as Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. Despite his wisdom and miracles, the people are scandalized by his humble origins. They cannot reconcile the familiarity of his family with the extraordinary gifts they see in him. Their unbelief leads to their offense, and as a result, Jesus is unable to perform many miracles there. This passage underscores the truth that even the Messiah faces rejection, especially in the place where he is best known. It also highlights the importance of humility and openness to God’s surprises, as those who think they already know Jesus may miss the depth of his message.
Both readings remind us that faith requires us to let go of our preconceptions and biases. Jeremiah’s courage in the face of rejection and Jesus’ humble acceptance of his people’s unbelief challenge us to examine our own response to God’s word. How often do we, like the people of Nazareth, allow familiarity or pride to blind us to the truth? How often do we, like the people of Judah, resist the call to repentance? Today’s readings invite us to cultivate humility and openness, trusting that God’s word, even when it comes through unexpected or challenging messengers, is always for our salvation. Let us pray for the grace to listen with open hearts and to follow where God leads, even when it is difficult.