Daily Readings - Sat Jul 13 2024
Isaiah
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Matthew
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and the call to courage in faith. The prophet Isaiah finds himself in the presence of God, surrounded by the majestic seraphim, and is deeply aware of his own unworthiness. Yet, through the purifying coal, he is transformed and responds to God’s call to serve. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face, urging them not to fear persecution but to trust in God’s providence. He reminds them that they are valued beyond measure and that acknowledging Him before others is a testament to their faith.
Both readings highlight the universal human experience of feeling inadequate when faced with a divine call. Isaiah’s hesitation and the disciples’ fear reflect our own doubts and insecurities. However, it is precisely in these moments that God’s grace shines through, transforming our weaknesses into strengths. The context of these passages is one of crisis and challenge—ancient Israel’s turmoil and the early Christian community’s persecution—yet they offer a message of hope and resilience.
In our daily lives, we are often called to step beyond our comfort zones, whether in our personal relationships, workplaces, or communities. Like Isaiah and the disciples, we may feel unprepared or unworthy. Yet, it is in these moments that we are invited to trust in God’s presence and care. The moral lesson here is one of courage and humility. Recognizing our limitations is not a hindrance but a stepping stone to deeper faith. By embracing our vulnerabilities and trusting in God’s grace, we can respond to His call with confidence, knowing that we are valued and supported every step of the way.