Daily Readings - Fri Aug 05 2022

Nahum

15Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.
2For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
1Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;2The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.3The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:6And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.7And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?

Matthew

24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Sermon

The first reading from the Prophet Nahum paints a vivid picture of judgment and consequence. Nineveh, once a city spared by God’s mercy when Jonah preached repentance, has returned to its sinful ways. Nahum announces the fall of Nineveh, describing its corruption, violence, and bloodshed. The city, once given a chance to turn back to God, now faces devastation and ruin. This reading serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God’s call to repentance and living in defiance of His will. The prophet’s words are a call to reflect on our own lives and the choices we make, lest we suffer a similar fate. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the cost of following Him. He calls them to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, emphasizing that true life is found in losing oneself for His sake. This teaching is both a challenge and an invitation. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and attachments, recognizing that worldly gain is worthless compared to the value of our souls. At the same time, it invites us to embrace a life of self-sacrificial love, trusting that God’s plan for us is far greater than anything we could imagine. Together, these readings remind us that our choices have consequences. Nahum’s prophecy warns us about the dangers of stubborn sin and the refusal to turn back to God, while Jesus’ words in the Gospel offer us a path of hope and transformation. As we navigate our daily lives, let us examine our hearts and actions. Are we living in a way that honors God, or are we allowing sin and selfishness to take root? Let us turn to the Lord with humility and courage, embracing the cross and following Jesus, for it is only in doing so that we will find true life and fulfillment.