Daily Readings - Thu Aug 19 2021
Judges
29Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.30And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,31Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.32So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.33And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.34And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.35And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.36And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.37And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.38And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.39And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
Matthew
1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.14For many are called, but few are chosen.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of commitment, faith, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from Judges tells the story of Jephthah, a judge of Israel, who makes a solemn vow to God in exchange for victory over the Ammonites. Tragically, the first to greet him upon his return is his only daughter, and Jephthah, bound by his vow, must sacrifice her. This story underscores the gravity of our commitments and the often-unexpected ways they shape our lives. The second reading, from Matthew's Gospel, presents Jesus' parable of the wedding feast. A king invites guests to his son's wedding, but they refuse. He then invites others, both good and bad, to fill the feast. However, one guest is cast out for not wearing a wedding garment, highlighting the importance of being prepared to respond to God's invitation.
Both readings, though distinct in context, share a common theme: the call to faithfulness and the consequences of our response. Jephthah's story reminds us that our commitments, even when difficult, have profound implications. The parable of the wedding feast, on the other hand, challenges us to consider how we respond to God's invitation. The guests who refused the invitation represent those who are indifferent or complacent, while the one without a wedding garment symbolizes the lack of preparation for a life of faith. Together, these readings call us to examine our own relationship with God and the seriousness with which we approach our spiritual lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God's invitations in our lives? Are we like the guests who ignored the king's call, too caught up in our own pursuits? Or are we like the one who came unprepared, thinking that mere presence is enough? The readings remind us that faith is not passive; it requires active engagement and a willingness to surrender to God's will. Like Jephthah, we may face difficult choices, but it is in these moments that our commitment to God is tested. Let us strive to live with integrity, preparing our hearts and lives to respond faithfully to God's call, knowing that many are called, but few are chosen.