Daily Readings - Sat Nov 30 2019
Romans
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
Matthew
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."20At once they left their nets and followed him.21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the transformative power of faith and the call to action it demands. In Romans 10:9-18, Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the resurrection. He underscores the importance of hearing the Word of God to ignite faith, highlighting the role of preaching in spreading the Gospel. This theological foundation is illustrated in Matthew 4:18-22, where Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Their immediate and complete response, leaving their livelihoods behind, exemplifies the active commitment faith requires.
These passages are deeply connected. Paul's words provide the theological basis for how faith is born through hearing the Word, while the Gospel narrative demonstrates the practical response to such faith. The disciples' prompt obedience shows that true faith leads to tangible actions, trusting in God's plan even when it demands sacrifice.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our own response to God's Word. Like the disciples, we are invited to trust in God's call, whether it leads to significant life changes or smaller, everyday acts of faith. The moral lesson here is clear: hearing the Word is only the first step. True faith is lived out through our actions, as we share the Gospel and embody Christ's teachings in our lives. Let us strive to be open to God's call, trusting in His plan and responding with courage and commitment.