Daily Readings - Wed Jun 28 2023
Genesis
1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.4And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.7And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.8And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Matthew
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust, faith, and discernment. In the first reading from Genesis, we encounter Abram, who is struggling with doubt and uncertainty about God’s promise of descendants and land. God responds by making a covenant with Abram, using the dramatic imagery of a smoking furnace and a lamp of fire passing between the divided animals. This ritual signifies God’s commitment to Abram, sealing the promise that his offspring will inherit the land. Abram’s faith in God’s promise, despite his doubts, is a powerful example of trust in the face of uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us about false prophets who appear harmless but harbor harmful intentions. He teaches us to discern their true nature by their actions, just as we can tell a tree by its fruit. This passage reminds us that our words and actions must align with our faith, and we must be cautious about the influences we allow into our lives. Just as Abram had to trust God’s promise, we too must trust in God’s wisdom and guidance as we navigate the challenges of discerning good from evil.
Together, these readings encourage us to live with faith and integrity. Abram’s story shows us that even in times of doubt, God is faithful and keeps His promises. Jesus’ teaching reminds us to remain vigilant and rooted in our values, so that our lives bear fruit that reflects God’s love and truth. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan for us and to live in a way that our actions and words bear witness to His presence in our lives.