Daily Readings - Sat Jul 05 2025
Genesis
1And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.2And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:3Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;4And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.9Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:10And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.15And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:16And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:17And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.18And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?19And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.20And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.21And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.23And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.24And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.25And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.26And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.27And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:28Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:29Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Matthew
14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?15And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.16No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.17Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, deception, and spiritual growth. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Jacob and Esau, where Rebekah orchestrates a deception to secure the blessing for her favored son, Jacob. This tale reveals the complexities of human desire and the consequences of manipulating divine plans. The second reading from Matthew finds Jesus addressing his disciples about fasting, using parables of new cloth and wineskins to illustrate the incompatibility of old and new practices, emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal.
The Genesis story highlights the tension between human schemes and divine providence. Isaac, nearing the end of his life, seeks to bless his firstborn son, Esau, but Rebekah's interference leads Jacob to deceive his father. This act of deception, while successful in the moment, sets the stage for future conflict and division within the family. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on cunning and control rather than trusting in God's plan.
In contrast, Jesus' teachings in Matthew offer a vision of spiritual transformation. He explains that just as new wine cannot be poured into old wineskins without causing rupture, so too must our hearts and minds be open to the newness that God brings. This teaching challenges us to let go of old ways of thinking and being, embracing instead the fresh perspectives and practices that faith requires.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own approach to faith and life. Are we like Rebekah, trying to manipulate circumstances to achieve our desires, or are we open to the transformative power of God? Jesus reminds us that true spiritual growth requires humility and a willingness to embrace change. As we navigate the complexities of our own lives, may we trust in God's plan and seek to live with integrity, avoiding the pitfalls of deception and instead choosing the path of openness and trust. Let us remember that blessings come not through our own schemes, but through surrendering to God's will.