Daily Readings - Mon Jul 10 2017
Genesis
10Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.11When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.13There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.15I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."16When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it."17He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."18Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.19He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear21so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God22and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."
Matthew
18While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."19Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.20Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.21She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.23When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,24he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.26News of this spread through all that region.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound moments of faith and divine encounter. The first reading from Genesis describes Jacob’s vision of a ladder stretching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. This vision occurs at a pivotal moment in Jacob’s journey, as he flees from his brother Esau. The Lord appears to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant promise made to his ancestors, Abraham and Isaac, and promising that Jacob’s descendants will spread across the earth. Jacob, awestruck by this divine encounter, names the place Bethel, meaning “House of God,” and sets up a stone monument as a reminder of God’s presence. This story reminds us that even in uncertain and challenging times, God can reveal Himself in unexpected ways, transforming ordinary places into sacred spaces.
In the Gospel, we find two miracles that highlight the power of faith. First, a woman suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years approaches Jesus in secret, touching the hem of His garment. Her faith in Jesus’ healing power restores her to full health. Shortly after, Jesus raises the ruler’s daughter from the dead, demonstrating His authority over life and death. Both stories emphasize the importance of trust in God’s providence and the transformative power of faith. The woman’s persistence and the ruler’s plea for help show us that faith, even in the face of doubt or despair, can lead to miraculous outcomes.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we encounter God in our own lives. Like Jacob, we may find ourselves in unexpected places where God reveals His presence. Like the woman and the ruler, we are called to trust in God’s promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. In our daily lives, we are reminded to seek God in the ordinary moments and to approach Him with faith, knowing that He is always near. May we, like Jacob, recognize the sacredness of the present moment and, like the woman and the ruler, place our trust in the Lord who heals, restores, and brings new life.