Daily Readings - Mon Jul 10 2023
Genesis
10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Matthew
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.22But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.23And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God. The first reading from Genesis describes Jacob's visionary dream, where he sees a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending. This vision occurs at a pivotal moment in Jacob's journey, as he flees from his brother Esau. God appears to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac, promising the land to his descendants and blessings to all nations through him. Jacob, in awe, recognizes the sacredness of the place, naming it Bethel and making a vow to God.
In the Gospel, we find two instances of faith leading to healing. A ruler, desperate for his deceased daughter's life, seeks Jesus. On the way, a woman suffering from a twelve-year hemorrhage touches Jesus' cloak, demonstrating unwavering faith, and is healed. Jesus commends her faith, emphasizing its role in her healing. At the ruler's house, despite mockery, Jesus restores the girl to life, illustrating His divine power and the transformative impact of faith.
These readings remind us of the importance of trusting God amidst life's challenges. Like Jacob, we may face uncertain journeys, but God's promises are ever-present. The woman's faith and the ruler's plea teach us to approach God with trust, recognizing His presence in our lives. May we, like Jacob, acknowledge sacred moments and, like the woman and the ruler, place our faith in God, knowing His blessings and healing are always within reach.