Daily Readings - Tue Jun 18 2024
1 Kings
17And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,18Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.19And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.20And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.21Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,22And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.23And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.24Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.25But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.26And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.27And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.28And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,29Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
Matthew
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about sin, mercy, and the call to holiness. The first reading from 1 Kings recounts the story of Elijah confronting King Ahab over his sinful actions in seizing Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab’s repentance, though late, moves God to show mercy, delaying punishment to the next generation. This story reminds us that sin has consequences, but repentance opens the door to God’s compassion. The Gospel from Matthew challenges us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, calling us to imitate God’s perfection by extending love universally, just as He sends rain and sunshine to all.
The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on God’s mercy and the high standard of love He calls us to. While Ahab’s story shows that even the worst sins can be forgiven through repentance, Jesus’ teaching pushes us beyond mere obedience to a radical love that embraces everyone, even our enemies. Together, they invite us to reflect on our own relationships and actions, urging us to seek humility, repentance, and a willingness to love without condition.
As we apply these lessons to our daily lives, we are reminded that every moment presents a choice: to sin or to seek forgiveness, to hold grudges or to love unconditionally. Let us examine our own hearts and actions, seeking to grow in humility and compassion. May we, like Ahab, humble ourselves before God, and may we, like Jesus teaches, strive to love as God loves—without limits or conditions. In doing so, we become not only followers of Christ but also instruments of His mercy and love in the world.