Daily Readings - Sat Jul 11 2020
Isaiah
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.2Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.3And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.5"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."6Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.7With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Matthew
24"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.25It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound moments of divine encounter and the call to courage. The first reading from Isaiah describes a visionary experience where the prophet is awestruck by God’s glory in the temple. Overwhelmed by his own unworthiness, he is cleansed by a seraphim, symbolizing God’s grace and readiness to send him forth. This passage highlights Isaiah’s transformation from fear to mission, illustrating God’s power to overcome human limitations.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this with Jesus’ teachings to His disciples. Jesus emphasizes that following Him may lead to persecution, but they should not fear. He encourages openness and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of adversity. This passage underscores the importance of faith and courage, reminding us that our worth is in God’s eyes, not the world’s.
Both readings connect through themes of humility and trust. Isaiah’s call and Jesus’ instructions remind us that despite our fears and inadequacies, God equips us for His purposes. In daily life, this means embracing our limitations with humility and trusting in God’s grace. We are called to stand firm in our faith, knowing that God’s care extends to every aspect of our lives. Let us, like Isaiah and the disciples, accept God’s call with courage and trust, living as witnesses of His love and truth.