Daily Readings - Mon Jun 21 2021
Genesis
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.7And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
Matthew
1Judge not, that ye be not judged.2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?5Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful calls to faith and humility. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Abram, who is called by God to leave behind everything familiar—his land, his family, and his home. God promises Abram that he will become the father of a great nation and that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him. Abram’s response is one of trust and obedience; he departs as the Lord instructs, even though the journey is uncertain. This passage reminds us that faith often requires us to step into the unknown, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a complementary message, as Jesus teaches us about the importance of humility and self-awareness. He warns us against judging others, reminding us that we will be judged by the same measure we use to judge others. Jesus uses the vivid image of a splinter in our brother’s eye and a board in our own to highlight the hypocrisy of focusing on others’ faults while ignoring our own. This teaching challenges us to examine our own hearts and actions before presuming to correct others. True wisdom begins with self-reflection and a willingness to acknowledge our own limitations.
These readings are connected by the theme of trusting God and living with humility. Abram’s faith in God’s promise teaches us to trust in divine providence, even when the path ahead is unclear. Jesus’ teaching, on the other hand, calls us to humility and self-awareness, reminding us that we cannot guide others unless we first examine our own lives. Together, these readings invite us to embrace a life of faith and humility, trusting in God’s plan while striving to live with integrity and compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to step out in faith like Abram? And are we honest enough to recognize our own shortcomings before judging others? May we seek to follow God’s will with trust and humility, allowing His grace to transform our hearts and actions.