Daily Readings - Thu Aug 02 2018
Jeremiah
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:2"Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message."3So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.5Then the word of the LORD came to me:6"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Matthew
47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful metaphors that guide us in understanding God's transformative power and our role within His plan. Jeremiah's visit to the potter's house in the first reading illustrates God's sovereignty and creative authority over His people. The potter, shaping and reshaping clay, mirrors God's ability to form and reform Israel, offering both judgment and the promise of redemption. This metaphor reminds us of God's patience and our malleability in His hands, inviting us to remain open to His will.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a parable of a net cast into the sea, gathering all kinds of fish. This imagery speaks to the inclusive nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, where all are drawn in, but ultimately separated based on their worthiness. The parable underscores the reality of judgment, where the good are treasured and the bad are discarded. It challenges us to discern between the influences in our lives, embracing the good and rejecting the bad, as we prepare for the ultimate judgment.
Both readings connect through themes of transformation and judgment. Jeremiah's potter emphasizes God's active role in shaping us, while Matthew's parable calls us to live with purpose, aware of the separation to come. As followers of Christ, we are called to be like the scribe who brings forth both old and new treasures, sharing the Good News with wisdom and understanding. May we trust in God's plan, live with intention, and be faithful stewards of His teachings, ever ready to share the richness of our faith.