Daily Readings - Fri Aug 02 2024
Jeremiah
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,2Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:3If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.4And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,5To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;6Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.7So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.8Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.9Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Matthew
54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?55Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments where God’s messengers face rejection. The first reading from Jeremiah depicts the prophet standing in the temple courtyard, delivering a stern warning to the people of Judah. He calls them to repentance, urging them to turn away from their sinful ways. However, his message is met with hostility, and the people, including the priests and prophets, seek to kill him. This reaction underscores the human tendency to resist uncomfortable truths, especially when they challenge our complacency.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a similar theme of rejection, this time involving Jesus in his hometown of Nazareth. Despite His wisdom and miracles, the people are skeptical because they know Him as the son of a carpenter. Their familiarity with His humble origins blinds them to His divine mission, leading to unbelief. Jesus’ statement that a prophet is without honor in His own country highlights the difficulty of receiving truth from one who is close to us.
These readings remind us that faith requires humility and openness. Like the people in Jeremiah’s time and Jesus’ hometown, we may resist God’s message when it challenges our perceptions or comforts. Let us reflect on our own response to God’s word. Do we allow pride or familiarity to harden our hearts? Let us pray for the grace to receive God’s truth with humility, embracing the call to conversion and growth in our daily lives.