Daily Readings - Sun Aug 23 2020
Isaiah
15Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,19And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.20And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:21And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.22And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.23And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
Romans
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Matthew
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of divine authority, faith, and the mystery of God’s ways. In the first reading from Isaiah, we see a dramatic shift in leadership as God removes Shebna, who has become complacent and unworthy of his role, and replaces him with Eliakim, a humble and faithful servant. This passage emphasizes God’s sovereignty and His ability to raise up leaders who will serve His people with integrity and love. The second reading from Romans is a hymn of praise to the unfathomable wisdom and knowledge of God. St. Paul marvels at the mystery of God’s ways, acknowledging that His judgments are beyond human comprehension and that all things come from Him and return to Him. This passage calls us to humility and trust in God’s providence. In the Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples a pivotal question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, filled with faith and guided by the Father, confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then entrusts Peter with the keys of the kingdom, symbolizing the authority to bind and loose, and establishes him as the rock upon which the Church will be built.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s prophecy about Eliakim, a faithful steward, foreshadows the role of Peter as the steward of the Church. Both Eliakim and Peter are called to serve God’s people with humility and fidelity. The passage from Romans reminds us that God’s ways are beyond our understanding, but we can trust in His wisdom and providence. This trust is precisely what Peter exhibits when he confesses Jesus as the Messiah. His faith is not based on human reasoning but on the revelation of the Father. In this way, the readings invite us to surrender our limited understanding and to place our faith in God’s plan, just as Peter did.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Like Peter, we are called to confess Jesus as the center of our lives, even when the world around us is uncertain. We are also reminded that leadership and authority are not about power but about serving others with humility and love. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us turn to God with the same trust and faith that Peter showed. May we, like Eliakim and Peter, be faithful stewards of the gifts and responsibilities God has entrusted to us. And may we always remember that the wisdom and ways of God are far greater than anything we can comprehend.