Daily Readings - Fri Aug 01 2025
Leviticus
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,4These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.7In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.8But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.9And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:11And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.15And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:16Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.27Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.35On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.36Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.37These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
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 journey through two significant moments in the biblical narrative, each offering profound insights into faith, community, and the divine presence in our lives. The first reading from Leviticus details the sacred feasts of the Israelites, emphasizing their communal and spiritual significance. These feasts were not merely rituals but opportunities for the people to connect with God and celebrate their covenant. The Gospel, however, shifts our focus to Jesus's experience in his hometown, where He faces skepticism and rejection, highlighting the challenge of recognizing the divine in the familiar.
The context of Leviticus is rooted in the establishment of Israel's religious practices, providing a framework for worship and community life. These feasts served as reminders of God's presence and the people's history, fostering unity and spiritual renewal. In contrast, Matthew's account of Jesus in His hometown reveals the tension between communal expectations and individual faith. Jesus's wisdom and miracles, while recognized by some, are met with doubt by others, illustrating the human struggle with faith and the divine.
These readings relate through their emphasis on community and individual faith. The feasts in Leviticus are communal acts of worship, while Jesus's experience underscores the personal challenge of faith. Together, they remind us that faith is both a collective and individual journey. Applying this to our lives, we are called to participate in communal worship, which strengthens our faith, while also nurturing our personal relationship with God. This balance helps us recognize the divine in our midst, even when it seems ordinary.
The moral lesson here is twofold: first, not to let familiarity breed contempt, but to seek the sacred in everyday encounters. Second, to maintain faith despite doubt, trusting in God's presence and plan. May we, like the Israelites and Jesus's disciples, embrace both the communal and personal aspects of our faith, allowing it to transform our lives and our communities.