Daily Readings - Fri Aug 03 2018
Jeremiah
1Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:2"This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD's house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.3Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.4Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you,5and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),6then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.'"7The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD.8But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die!9Why do you prophesy in the LORD's name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Matthew
54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful moments of prophetic witness, each highlighting the challenges of speaking God’s truth to those who are unwilling to hear it. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet stands courageously in the Temple courtyard, delivering a message of repentance to the people of Judah. He warns them that if they do not turn away from their sinful ways, the Temple will suffer the same fate as Shiloh, which was destroyed for its corruption. Despite the urgency of his message, Jeremiah faces fierce resistance, and the people even threaten his life. This passage reminds us that proclaiming God’s truth often comes at a cost, and it requires unwavering faith and courage.
In the Gospel, we see a similar dynamic as Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. Though he teaches with wisdom and authority, the people are scandalized because they know him as the son of a carpenter. Their familiarity with him breeds contempt, and they refuse to accept his divine mission. Jesus responds by noting that a prophet is often rejected in his own home, and as a result, he works few miracles there due to their lack of faith. This passage invites us to reflect on our own openness to God’s presence in our lives. How often do we fail to recognize the divine truth in front of us because of our preconceptions or pride?
Both readings challenge us to examine our own hearts and minds. Are we open to hearing God’s word, even when it comes through unexpected or unwelcome messengers? Do we allow our familiarity with others or our own biases to blind us to the truth? The moral lesson here is clear: humility and faith are essential for receiving God’s grace. Like Jeremiah, we must be willing to stand firm in our commitment to God’s truth, even in the face of opposition. And like the people of Nazareth, we must guard against the temptation to dismiss or reject what God is doing in our midst. Let us pray for the grace to be open, humble, and faithful in our daily lives.