Daily Readings - Sun Aug 23 2020
Isaiah
15This is what the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says: "Go, say to this steward, to Shebna, who is in charge of the palace:19I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position.20"In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah.21I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.22I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.23I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.
Romans
33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!34"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"35"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Matthew
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of divine authority, faith, and the mystery of God’s ways. In the first reading from Isaiah, we see a dramatic shift in leadership as God removes Shebna, who has become complacent and unworthy of his role, and replaces him with Eliakim, a humble and faithful servant. This passage emphasizes God’s sovereignty and His ability to raise up leaders who will serve His people with integrity and love. The second reading from Romans is a hymn of praise to the unfathomable wisdom and knowledge of God. St. Paul marvels at the mystery of God’s ways, acknowledging that His judgments are beyond human comprehension and that all things come from Him and return to Him. This passage calls us to humility and trust in God’s providence. In the Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples a pivotal question: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, filled with faith and guided by the Father, confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus then entrusts Peter with the keys of the kingdom, symbolizing the authority to bind and loose, and establishes him as the rock upon which the Church will be built.
These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s prophecy about Eliakim, a faithful steward, foreshadows the role of Peter as the steward of the Church. Both Eliakim and Peter are called to serve God’s people with humility and fidelity. The passage from Romans reminds us that God’s ways are beyond our understanding, but we can trust in His wisdom and providence. This trust is precisely what Peter exhibits when he confesses Jesus as the Messiah. His faith is not based on human reasoning but on the revelation of the Father. In this way, the readings invite us to surrender our limited understanding and to place our faith in God’s plan, just as Peter did.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Like Peter, we are called to confess Jesus as the center of our lives, even when the world around us is uncertain. We are also reminded that leadership and authority are not about power but about serving others with humility and love. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us turn to God with the same trust and faith that Peter showed. May we, like Eliakim and Peter, be faithful stewards of the gifts and responsibilities God has entrusted to us. And may we always remember that the wisdom and ways of God are far greater than anything we can comprehend.