Daily Readings - Fri Jul 07 2017
Genesis
1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.2She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said,4"I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead."19Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
1Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.2He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh.3I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."5The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"6"Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'-he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.8If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."62Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.63He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel65and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.66Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.67Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Matthew
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust, faith, and God's providence. The first reading from Genesis presents Abraham, a man of deep faith, who entrusts God with two significant life events: the burial of his wife Sarah and the marriage of his son Isaac. Abraham's trust in God is evident as he instructs his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his own kin, believing that God will guide the process. This trust is rewarded when Rebekah, a kind and generous woman, agrees to leave her home and marry Isaac, symbolizing God's faithfulness to His promises.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who embodies God's mercy and compassion. Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, and later dines with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees question Jesus' actions, but He responds by emphasizing that His mission is to call sinners to repentance, not to condemn the righteous. Jesus' words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," remind us that God's heart is for those who are broken and in need of healing.
These readings remind us that faith and trust in God's plan are essential for our lives. Like Abraham, we are called to trust God even when the future seems uncertain. Like Jesus, we are called to extend mercy and compassion to those around us, recognizing that we are all in need of God's grace. May we learn to trust in God's providence and to live out His mercy in our daily lives.