Daily Readings - Sat Jul 23 2022
Jeremiah
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,2Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.3Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.4Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.5For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;6If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:7Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.8Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.9Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;10And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?11Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
Matthew
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to living a life of faith and integrity. The first reading from Jeremiah confronts us with a call to repentance and authenticity in our worship of God. Jeremiah stands at the gates of the Temple, urging the people to examine their lives and their intentions. He warns them against false confidence in the Temple’s presence while continuing to live in sin and injustice. The Lord calls them to make their ways and intentions good, to act justly, and to care for the vulnerable. Jeremiah’s message is clear: true worship is not about rituals or empty words but about living a life that reflects God’s justice and love.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents us with a parable about the kingdom of heaven, where good seed and weeds grow together in the same field. The master of the house allows both to grow until the harvest, trusting that in the end, the wheat will be separated from the weeds. This parable reminds us that the kingdom of God is not about quick fixes or immediate judgments but about patience and trust in God’s plan. It also challenges us to examine our own lives: are we the wheat, living in accordance with God’s will, or are we the weeds, allowing sin and selfishness to take root?
Both readings invite us to reflect on the state of our hearts and lives. Jeremiah’s call to justice and integrity and Jesus’ parable about the kingdom of heaven remind us that our faith must be lived out in concrete actions. We cannot simply go through the motions of religious practice while neglecting the call to love and serve others. True faith requires us to examine our intentions, to root out sin, and to trust in God’s plan, even when the journey is uncertain. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects the justice and love of God? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems messy and imperfect? May we strive to be the wheat, growing in holiness and patience, as we await the harvest of God’s kingdom.