Daily Readings - Mon Aug 05 2024
Jeremiah
1And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:4And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,6Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.9The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.12Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.14For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.16Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Matthew
13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.18He said, Bring them hither to me.19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, discernment, and God's providence. The first reading from Jeremiah presents a stark contrast between the true prophet Jeremiah and the false prophet Hananiah. While Hananiah offers a message of immediate relief and liberation from the yoke of Babylon, Jeremiah delivers a more difficult truth: the exile will be long, and the people must endure. This tension reminds us that God's timing is not always aligned with our desires, and true faith requires patience and trust in His plan, even when it is challenging.
The Gospel reading from Matthew offers a complementary message of trust in God's providence. Jesus, moved by compassion, feeds a multitude with just five loaves and two fish, demonstrating that even the smallest resources can be multiplied when placed in God's hands. This miracle is not just about physical nourishment but also about spiritual sustenance, teaching us to rely on God's abundance rather than our own limited vision. Just as the disciples were called to share what little they had, we too are invited to trust that our meager offerings can be transformed by God into something extraordinary.
These readings encourage us to embrace a deeper trust in God's plan, even when it seems slow or uncertain. Like Jeremiah, we must discern the truth amidst false assurances and remain steadfast in our faith. Like the disciples, we must be willing to offer what little we have, trusting that God will provide. In our daily lives, this means facing challenges with patience, seeking guidance from true sources of wisdom, and generously sharing our time, talents, and resources with others. May we learn to trust in God's timing and providence, knowing that He works all things for our good.