Daily Readings - Tue Jul 09 2019
Genesis
22That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.23After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.25When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.26Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."27The man asked him, "What is your name?Jacob," he answered.28Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."29Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."31The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.32Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.
Matthew
32While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.33And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."34But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of transformation and call to service. The first reading from Genesis recounts Jacob's wrestling match with God, a pivotal moment where Jacob's perseverance leads to his renaming as Israel, symbolizing his transformation through faith. This event underscores the theme of trusting in God's plan, even during life's struggles.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus's ministry, where He heals a mute man and then, moved by compassion, calls for laborers to tend to the harvest. This highlights Jesus's role as a shepherd and the urgency of spreading the Gospel. Together, these readings connect the dots between personal transformation and active service, emphasizing that our faith should lead us to compassionate action.
As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded to embrace our struggles as opportunities for growth and to trust in God's guidance. Just as Jacob was transformed and Jesus called His disciples, we too are called to serve others with compassion. Let us strive to be laborers in God's harvest, trusting in His plan and actively living out our faith through service to others.