Daily Readings - Tue Jul 12 2022

Isaiah

1And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.2And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.3Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;4And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.5Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,6Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:7Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.8For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

Matthew

20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages about faith, trust, and repentance. The first reading from Isaiah describes a moment of crisis for King Ahaz of Judah, as Syria and Israel threaten to attack Jerusalem. Isaiah is sent by God to reassure Ahaz that these enemies will not prevail, urging him to trust in God’s promise of protection. The prophet emphasizes that without faith, Judah will not endure, highlighting the importance of placing one’s hope in God rather than human strength or alliances. The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who rebukes the cities that witnessed his miracles but failed to repent. He laments that even the notoriously sinful cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom would have responded with greater humility and repentance had they seen the same wonders. Jesus’ words are a stark reminder that God’s grace demands a response; indifference to his gifts leads to greater condemnation. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not passive but active—it requires us to trust in God’s providence and to turn away from sin in response to his mercy. As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly trust in God’s plan for our lives, especially in times of uncertainty? Are we responsive to the graces he showers upon us, or do we take them for granted? The moral lesson is clear: faith and repentance are inseparable. Just as Ahaz needed to trust in God’s promise, and just as the cities needed to repent in response to Jesus’ miracles, we too must cultivate a deep trust in God and a willingness to turn away from sin. May we strive to live lives marked by faith, humility, and a constant conversion of heart.