Daily Readings - Sat Jul 06 2019
Genesis
1When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son.Here I am," he answered.2Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death.3Now then, get your weapons-your quiver and bow-and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me.4Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."5Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back,9Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it.10Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies."15Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob.16She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.17Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.18He went to his father and said, "My father.Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?"19Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing."20Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?The LORD your God gave me success," he replied.21Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not."22Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau."23He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him.24"Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," he replied.25Then he said, "My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank.26Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me."27So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.28May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness- an abundance of grain and new wine.29May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."
Matthew
14Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"15Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.16"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on change, tradition, and the ways in which God works in our lives. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Jacob and Esau, a tale of deception and the pursuit of blessing. Rebekah, Jacob's mother, orchestrates a plan to ensure her favored son receives the blessing intended for Esau, the firstborn. This story highlights the complexities of family dynamics and the human desire to control divine plans. The second reading from Matthew finds Jesus addressing the question of fasting. He uses the parables of the patch and the wineskins to explain that the newness of God's kingdom cannot be confined to old practices. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, Jesus' teachings demand a fresh approach to spirituality.
These readings, though separated by time and context, share a common theme: the tension between the old and the new. In Genesis, Rebekah's actions reflect a desire to redirect the course of events, while in Matthew, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of embracing change. Both stories remind us that God often works outside our expectations, challenging us to let go of familiar ways and trust in His plan. The Pharisees and John's disciples clung to traditional fasting practices, unable to see the new life Jesus brought. Similarly, Isaac's blessing was tied to the old order, yet God would use Jacob to fulfill His promises in unexpected ways.
As we apply these readings to our lives, we are invited to reflect on our own resistance to change. How often do we cling to comfortable traditions or try to manipulate circumstances to fit our desires? Jesus calls us to openness and flexibility, to recognize that His kingdom is not about preserving the past but about embracing the new life He offers. Let us ask ourselves: Are we like the wineskins, rigid and unable to hold the new wine of the Spirit? Or are we willing to be transformed, to let go of the old and receive the blessings God has in store for us? May we, like Jacob, trust in God's providence, even when the path is uncertain, and may we, like Jesus, welcome the fresh ways of the kingdom.