Daily Readings - Fri Aug 07 2020
Nahum
15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
2For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
1Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;2The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.3The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:6And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.7And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
Matthew
24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live a life aligned with God's will, emphasizing the consequences of our choices and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from Nahum paints a vivid picture of judgment upon Nineveh, a city steeped in corruption and violence. Nahum's prophecy underscores the inevitability of God's justice, where the once-mighty city faces ruin due to its refusal to repent. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's path.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus' teachings on discipleship, highlighting the necessity of self-denial and taking up the cross. Jesus' words challenge us to reevaluate our priorities, emphasizing that true life is found not in worldly gains but in sacrificing for the sake of faith. The passage also touches on the eschatological hope of Christ's return, where each person will be judged according to their deeds. This serves as both a warning and an encouragement to live with integrity and purpose.
Connecting these readings, Nahum's prophecy illustrates the dire consequences of ignoring God's will, while Matthew offers the solution: following Christ through self-denial. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing spiritual values over material success and embracing sacrifices as part of our faith journey. The moral lesson is clear: a life well-lived is measured by fidelity to God, not earthly achievements. As we navigate our own paths, may we find the courage to carry our crosses, trusting in God's justice and mercy, and striving to live in accordance with His will.