Daily Readings - Sat Jul 08 2023
Genesis
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.2And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:3Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;4And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.9Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:10And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.15And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:16And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:17And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.18And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?19And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.20And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.21And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.23And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.24And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.25And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.26And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.27And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:28Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:29Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Matthew
14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.16No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that, upon closer examination, reveal a common theme of transformation and the challenges it presents. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Jacob and Esau, where Rebekah assists Jacob in deceiving Isaac to secure the blessing intended for Esau. This tale highlights the complexities of human desire and the consequences of deceit, illustrating how our weaknesses can lead us astray.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus discussing fasting with John's disciples. He uses the metaphor of the groom and wineskins to convey that His teachings represent a new era that cannot be confined by old traditions. Jesus emphasizes the necessity of embracing the new, as old structures cannot contain the freshness He brings.
Both readings invite us to reflect on the interplay between the old and the new. In Genesis, the old order is disrupted by Jacob's deception, leading to a shift in the family dynamics. In Matthew, Jesus introduces a new paradigm that challenges existing practices. This duality encourages us to consider the inevitability of change and the importance of adaptability in our spiritual journey.
In our daily lives, we often face moments where we must choose between clinging to the familiar or embracing the new. The readings remind us that growth and renewal are essential, even when uncomfortable. They urge us to approach change with openness and honesty, trusting in God's plan rather than resorting to deception.
Ultimately, the moral lesson is clear: we must embrace the newness that God brings into our lives, even when it disrupts our comfort. By doing so, we align ourselves with His will, fostering a spirit of truthfulness and trust. Let us seek to be open to transformation, knowing that it is through such change that we grow closer to God.