Daily Readings - Fri Jul 24 2020
Jeremiah
14"Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I will choose you-one from a town and two from a clan-and bring you to Zion.15Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.16In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made.17At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
Matthew
18"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through themes of divine call, receptivity, and the fruitful living of faith. The first reading from Jeremiah invites us to a future where God's presence is universally acknowledged, transcending physical symbols like the Ark of the Covenant. This vision emphasizes a new covenant where God's leaders guide His people with wisdom, leading to a time of gathering and worship in Jerusalem. The context here is one of redemption and communal transformation, urging us to return to God with open hearts.
The Gospel from Matthew, part of the parable of the sower, shifts focus to the individual's response to God's word. Jesus illustrates four types of soil, each representing different receptivity to the divine message. The seed's fate—snatched away, lacking root, choked by thorns, or flourishing in good soil—mirrors our own hearts' conditions. This parable challenges us to reflect on how we receive God's word, whether we allow it to take root and bear fruit amidst life's challenges and distractions.
Connecting these readings, we see a harmony between communal and individual faith. Jeremiah's vision of a redeemed community is nurtured when individuals cultivate fertile hearts, as described in Matthew. This interplay calls us to examine our personal receptivity and our role within the community. The moral lesson is clear: faith requires more than hearing; it demands understanding, perseverance, and living out God's word. By tending to our spiritual soil, we can bear fruit, contributing to a community where God's presence is vibrant and transformative. Let us strive to be good soil, embracing God's word and fostering a fruitful, faith-filled life.