Daily Readings - Sat Jul 09 2022
Isaiah
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Matthew
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to humility, courage, and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading, Isaiah describes his profound encounter with God in the temple, where he is overcome by a sense of unworthiness because of his "unclean lips." Yet, through the purifying action of the burning coal, he is cleansed and empowered to respond to God’s call, saying, "Here I am. Send me." This passage reminds us that God’s grace can transform our limitations and fears into a willingness to serve His mission. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the challenges they will face, urging them not to fear those who can harm the body but to trust in the Father’s care. He reminds them that even the smallest details of their lives are known to God, and they are worth more than many sparrows. Jesus calls them—and us—to acknowledge Him without shame, even in the face of adversity.
These readings are deeply connected. Both Isaiah and the disciples are called to a mission that requires humility and courage. Isaiah’s vision in the temple is a moment of profound humility, where he recognizes his sinfulness but is purified and sent forth. Similarly, Jesus’ disciples are called to embrace their mission with faith, trusting that God will provide the strength they need. The common thread is the invitation to step out in faith, despite feelings of inadequacy or fear, and to rely on God’s grace and providence.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own response to God’s call. Do we, like Isaiah, humbly acknowledge our limitations and allow God to transform us? Do we, like the disciples, trust in God’s care even when the path ahead seems uncertain or difficult? The moral lesson is clear: our worth and identity come from God, and He equips us to face any challenge. Let us pray for the courage to embrace our mission, whatever it may be, and to trust in the Father’s loving care.