Daily Readings - Sat Aug 07 2021
Deuteronomy
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.10And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,11And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;12Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Matthew
14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,15Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore the themes of faith, love, and trust in God. The passage from Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our being and passing His commandments to future generations. It serves as a reminder to remain faithful, especially during times of prosperity, lest we forget God's providence. The Gospel from Matthew illustrates Jesus' healing of an epileptic boy, highlighting the power of faith. Despite the disciples' inability to heal the boy, Jesus demonstrates that even a small amount of faith can lead to great outcomes.
Both readings, though from different contexts, share a common thread: the necessity of unwavering faith and trust in God. Deuteronomy, part of Moses' farewell address, urges the Israelites to remain faithful as they enter the Promised Land. Matthew's narrative, set during Jesus' ministry, teaches the disciples about the power of faith. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God must be rooted in love and sustained by faith, guiding our actions and decisions.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to nurture our faith and trust in God. Whether facing challenges or experiencing blessings, we are called to remember God's presence and provision. By cultivating faith, even as small as a mustard seed, we can overcome life's obstacles. Let us reflect on our commitment to God, ensuring our actions and hearts are aligned with His will, fostering a deep and abiding trust in His plan for our lives.