Daily Readings - Fri Jul 30 2021
Leviticus
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,4These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.8But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.9And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:11And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.15And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:16Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.35On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.36Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.37These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
Matthew
54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the importance of faith, tradition, and the challenges of recognizing God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Leviticus, we hear about the sacred feasts and rituals that marked the life of the Israelites. These feasts—such as the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles—were not just cultural traditions but deeply spiritual practices that connected the people to God’s saving actions in their history. They were moments of communal worship, gratitude, and remembrance, reminding the Israelites of their covenant with God and their dependence on Him for life and sustenance.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus returning to his hometown, where he is met with skepticism and even offense by those who knew him as a child. Despite his wisdom and miracles, the people struggle to see beyond his familiar identity as “the son of a carpenter.” This passage highlights the tension between familiarity and faith. Jesus’ neighbors fail to recognize the divine in their midst because they are limited by their own expectations and prejudices. As Jesus says, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.” Their unbelief hinders God’s work, and Jesus is unable to perform many miracles there.
These readings remind us that faith requires openness and humility. The Israelites’ feasts were rooted in a deep trust in God’s providence, while Jesus’ neighbors allowed their familiarity and pride to blind them to the truth. In our own lives, we may face similar challenges—moments when we fail to recognize God’s presence in the ordinary or when our preconceptions prevent us from embracing His grace. Let us strive to approach God with the humility and trust of the Israelites, and to see beyond the familiar to the divine that is always at work among us.