Daily Readings - Fri Jun 30 2023
Genesis
1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.9And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.10This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.17Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?18And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.20And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.22And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Matthew
1When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.3And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.4And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith, trust, and obedience. The first reading from Genesis recounts God's establishment of a covenant with Abraham, marking him as the father of many nations. Despite Abraham's advanced age and the seeming impossibility of having a child, he trusts God's promise, exemplifying unwavering faith. This covenant is sealed through the sign of circumcision, a physical reminder of God's pledge and the community's identity. The narrative also highlights Abraham's humility and acceptance of God's will, even when faced with doubt.
In the Gospel, we witness Jesus' compassionate healing of a leper. The leper approaches Jesus with humility and faith, acknowledging Jesus' power to heal. Jesus' immediate and merciful response underscores His divine authority and compassion. The instruction to show himself to the priest serves as a testament to God's work, emphasizing the importance of sharing our experiences as a form of worship and witness.
These readings connect through themes of faith and trust in God's promises. Abraham's story teaches us to trust God even when circumstances seem impossible, while the leper's encounter with Jesus illustrates the power of humble faith. Both narratives call us to obedience and using our experiences to glorify God. May we approach life with the humility and faith of the leper and the trust of Abraham, allowing God's grace to transform us and shine through us.