Daily Readings - Tue Jul 01 2025
Genesis
15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.23The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.24Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.27And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.29And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
Matthew
23And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.25And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Lot and his family fleeing Sodom as the city faces destruction. The angels urge Lot to escape without looking back, a command his wife tragically disobeys, turning her into a pillar of salt. This story underscores the gravity of God's judgment and the importance of heeding divine warnings. The second reading from Matthew describes Jesus calming a tempest while aboard a boat with his disciples. Despite the turmoil, Jesus demonstrates his divine authority by commanding the winds and sea to still, leaving the disciples in awe.
Both narratives highlight the theme of trust and faith. In Genesis, Lot's hesitation and his wife's glance back symbolize the human tendency to cling to the familiar, even when it is sinful. Conversely, the disciples in Matthew, though fearful, turn to Jesus for salvation, illustrating the need to trust in God's power and care. These stories remind us that faith is not merely belief but also action—moving forward without looking back and trusting in God's plan, even in the face of uncertainty.
In our daily lives, we often face storms, whether literal or metaphorical. Like the disciples, we may feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, but Jesus' words, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" invite us to examine our trust in God. Like Lot, we may be tempted to hold on to what is familiar or comfortable, even when it is not in line with God's will. These readings encourage us to move forward with courage, trusting in God's providence and guidance. Let us strive to deepen our faith, knowing that God is always with us, even in the midst of turmoil, and that He will lead us to safety if we trust in Him.