Daily Readings - Mon Aug 01 2022
Jeremiah
1And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:4And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,6Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.9The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.12Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.14For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.16Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Matthew
13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.18He said, Bring them hither to me.19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and God's providence. The first reading from Jeremiah describes a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and Hananiah, a false prophet who falsely claims that the yoke of Babylon will be broken within two years. Jeremiah, guided by God, counters this by explaining that Hananiah's words are not from the Lord, emphasizing that true prophecy must be tested by time and fidelity to God's word. This passage underscores the importance of discernment and trust in God's timing, even when faced with false assurances.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different scenario, one of abundance and divine provision. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds, multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. This miracle is not just about meeting physical needs but also about trusting in God's providence. Just as the disciples initially saw only scarcity, we often focus on our limitations. Yet, Jesus shows that even the smallest offerings, when surrendered to God, can yield extraordinary results.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and timing. Like Jeremiah, we must discern between true and false promises, remaining faithful even when the future seems uncertain. Like the disciples, we are called to trust that God can multiply our efforts and resources beyond our imagination. In our daily lives, this means surrendering our anxieties and limitations to God, trusting that He will provide in ways we cannot foresee. May we cultivate the patience and faith to trust in His providence, knowing that He is always at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.