Daily Readings - Fri Jul 17 2020
Isaiah
1In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,3"Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:5"Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.21Isaiah had said, "Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover."22Hezekiah had asked, "What will be the sign that I will go up to the temple of the LORD?"7"'This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:8I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.'" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
Matthew
1At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."3He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.5Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?6I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.8For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that illuminate the essence of God's mercy and the balance between adherence to law and compassionate action. The first reading from Isaiah recounts King Hezekiah's illness and his heartfelt prayer to God. Despite the prophecy of his impending death, Hezekiah's sincere plea and faith lead to God's merciful extension of his life by 15 years. This passage underscores the power of prayer and God's willingness to show compassion, even in the face of mortality.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a different yet complementary scenario. Jesus and His disciples encounter criticism from the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, which was against traditional law. Jesus defends their actions by referencing precedents from the Old Testament, such as David eating the bread of Presence and priests working on the Sabbath. He emphasizes that human needs and mercy should sometimes take precedence over strict legal observance, declaring Himself the Lord of the Sabbath.
Both readings highlight the importance of mercy and compassion. Hezekiah's story shows that sincere prayer can move God's heart, while Jesus teaches that mercy should guide our actions, even when it challenges traditional norms. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God's mercy, approach Him with humility, and balance our actions with compassion, remembering that love and kindness are at the heart of our faith.