Daily Readings - Thu Jun 09 2022
1 Kings
41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,43And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.44And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Matthew
20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.21Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Sermon
The first reading from 1 Kings tells the story of Elijah, a prophet of God, who after a long drought, prays for rain. Despite the initial absence of any visible sign, Elijah persists in prayer, trusting in God’s promise. His faith is rewarded when a small cloud appears, signaling the end of the drought and the coming of abundant rain. This passage reminds us of the power of faith and the importance of perseverance in prayer, even when the results are not immediately apparent.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the necessity of living a life of integrity and love. He deepens the commandment against murder by emphasizing that even anger and harsh words toward others are contrary to God’s will. Jesus calls us to reconciliation and forgiveness, urging us to resolve conflicts quickly and humbly. He even suggests that if we are about to offer a gift at the altar but remember that someone has something against us, we should first go and be reconciled. This teaching challenges us to prioritize love and unity over ritual and superficial righteousness.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. Elijah’s story shows us that faith and trust in God can lead to abundant life, even in the most barren of times. Jesus’ teaching, on the other hand, reminds us that our relationship with God is deeply connected to our relationships with others. To follow Christ means to live a life of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to trust in God’s providence and to love one another as He has loved us. In doing so, we will not only deepen our faith but also become instruments of peace and healing in the world around us.