Daily Readings - Wed Jun 23 2021
Genesis
1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.4And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.7And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.8And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Matthew
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Genesis 15 presents Abram, who is met with a divine promise by God. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of his circumstances, Abram chooses to trust in God's plan, exemplifying unwavering faith. This trust is not passive; it is active and leads to a covenant, symbolizing God's commitment and Abram's acceptance of His will.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us to discern true followers of God by their actions, likening them to trees that bear fruit. He warns against false prophets who may appear righteous but bear no good fruit. This teaching emphasizes the importance of living out our faith authentically, ensuring that our actions reflect our beliefs.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a lived commitment. Like Abram, we are called to trust God even when the future is uncertain. And like the trees in Jesus' parable, our faith must produce fruit in our lives—acts of love, kindness, and justice. As we navigate our daily lives, may we strive to embody this authentic faith, discerning wisely and living in accordance with God's will.