Daily Readings - Mon Aug 03 2020
Jeremiah
1And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:4And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,6Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.9The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.12Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.14For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.16Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Matthew
22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on the essence of faith and trust in God. The story from Jeremiah and the Gospel of Matthew both present scenarios where individuals are challenged to discern God's true message amidst turmoil.
The first reading from Jeremiah is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, a period of great turmoil for the people of Judah. Jeremiah, a true prophet, faces opposition from Hananiah, who delivers a false prophecy of swift deliverance. This context highlights the struggle between true and false hope, emphasizing the importance of standing firm in God's truth, even when it is met with resistance.
In the Gospel, Matthew recounts the story of Jesus walking on water, a moment of divine revelation for the disciples. Peter's attempt to walk on water, followed by his doubt and rescue by Jesus, illustrates the human experience of faith—eager yet sometimes faltering. This narrative underscores the need to trust in God's presence and power, especially during life's storms.
Both readings remind us of the importance of discernment and faith. In our daily lives, we often face challenges that require us to distinguish between true and false guidance. Like Jeremiah, we must remain steadfast in God's truth, even when it is unpopular. Like Peter, we may experience moments of doubt, but Jesus' promise to save us is ever-present.
The moral lesson here is clear: Faith is not about the absence of doubt but about trusting in God's plan and seeking His guidance. In times of uncertainty, we are called to discern true prophecy from false hope and to place our trust in God, who is always with us, even in the midst of life's tempests. Let us embrace this faith, knowing that God's grace is available to us whenever we call upon Him.