Daily Readings - Tue Jul 23 2024
Micah
14Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.15According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.18Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.20Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Matthew
46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound messages from both the Old and New Testaments that guide us in understanding God's mercy and our role within His family. The first reading from Micah offers a vision of hope and redemption. Micah, speaking to a distressed Israel, reminds us of God's faithfulness and mercy. He portrays God as a shepherd tending to His people, promising forgiveness and the casting away of sins. This message is set against the backdrop of Israel's struggles, emphasizing that even in darkness, God's mercy endures.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who redefines family. When His biological relatives approach, Jesus expands the concept of kinship to include all who do God's will. This teaching, rooted in the context of Jesus' ministry emphasizing the kingdom of God, invites us to see our spiritual family as those united in faith and action. Together, Micah and Matthew highlight the dual aspects of God's nature: His mercy and His call to live according to His will.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace both the reception of God's mercy and the active pursuit of His will. We are called to live as part of God's family, not just by birth but by our deeds. This means serving others with love and compassion, reflecting God's mercy in our interactions. The moral lesson here is the transformative power of spiritual kinship and the call to embody God's love in all we do, thereby living as true members of His family.