Daily Readings - Wed Aug 08 2018
Jeremiah
1"At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they will be my people."2This is what the LORD says: "The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert; I will come to give rest to Israel."3The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.4I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful.5Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.6There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"7This is what the LORD says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
Matthew
21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, restoration, and the boundless reach of God's mercy. The First Reading from Jeremiah speaks to a people in exile, promising them that God's love is eternal and that He will restore them. This passage, written during the Babylonian exile, offers comfort to those suffering, assuring them that God's love endures and that rebuilding is on the horizon. The Gospel from Matthew presents a Canaanite woman whose persistence and faith lead Jesus to heal her daughter, illustrating that God's compassion extends beyond cultural and religious boundaries.
These readings connect through themes of hope and inclusion. Jeremiah's prophecy assures Israel of God's faithfulness, while the Gospel shows Jesus actively demonstrating this faithfulness to those outside the Jewish community. Both highlight that God's love is not confined but is available to all who seek Him with perseverance and faith.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to trust in God's eternal love and to approach Him with the same persistence as the Canaanite woman. They remind us to remain steadfast in prayer and to embrace the inclusivity of God's mercy, recognizing that His healing and love are not limited to any one group. The moral lesson here is the power of faith and perseverance, teaching us to trust in God's abundant mercy and to welcome His work in unexpected places and people.