Daily Readings - Wed Jun 30 2021
Genesis
5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.15And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.20And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
Matthew
28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?30And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.32And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.33And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.34And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful stories of trust, struggle, and God’s providence. In the first reading from Genesis, we see Abraham grappling with a difficult decision involving his son Ishmael and Hagar, the mother of the child. Abraham, though deeply distressed, ultimately trusts in God’s plan and releases Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. It is there, in their moment of desperation, that God intervenes, providing water and hope for their survival. This story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God sees and hears us, and His care for us is unwavering.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different kind of struggle. Jesus meets two men possessed by demons, and the demons, recognizing Jesus’ authority, plead with Him to spare them from torment. Jesus, in His mercy, allows the demons to enter a herd of swine, but the people of the region, fearing the power they have just witnessed, ask Jesus to leave. This story highlights the fear and misunderstanding that often accompany encounters with God’s power. Yet, it also shows Jesus’ compassion and His willingness to restore freedom to those bound by evil.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and trust in God. Abraham trusted God’s promise even when the path ahead seemed uncertain. Jesus demonstrated His power to free those enslaved by sin and fear. In our own lives, we often face challenges that test our faith—moments when we feel abandoned or when God’s ways seem incomprehensible. These readings remind us that God is always present, even in the wilderness, and that His love and care for us are deeper than we can imagine. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead is unclear, and let us open our hearts to the freedom and healing that only He can provide.