Daily Readings - Fri Jul 02 2021
Genesis
1Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.2She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.3Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said,4"I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead."19Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
1Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.2He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh.3I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,4but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."5The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"6"Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said.7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'-he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.8If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."62Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.63He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.64Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel65and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.66Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.67Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Matthew
9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that remind us of God’s providence and the call to trust in His plan. In the first reading from Genesis, we see Abraham, now an old man, mourning the death of his wife Sarah and securing a burial place for her. This passage highlights Abraham’s faith and trust in God’s promises, even as he navigates the practical realities of life. Later, Abraham charges his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, insisting that she come from his own kindred rather than the Canaanites. The servant, entrusted with this sacred duty, places his trust in God and faithfully carries out Abraham’s instructions. This story underscores the importance of faith, trust, and obedience in our relationships and decisions.
In the Gospel, we meet Matthew, a tax collector, who is called by Jesus to follow Him. Matthew’s immediate response—leaving his post to follow Jesus—demonstrates the radical trust and surrender required to live a life of discipleship. When Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees question His actions, but Jesus responds with a profound lesson: “I have come not to call the just, but sinners.” This exchange reminds us that God’s mercy and compassion extend to all, and that we are called to imitate this mercy in our own lives.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God’s plan and our willingness to extend mercy to others. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead is uncertain. Like Matthew, we are invited to surrender our lives to Christ, following Him without reservation. And like Jesus, we are challenged to reach out to those on the margins, offering them the same mercy and love that God has shown us. May we, in our daily lives, strive to live with faith, trust, and compassion, knowing that God’s plan is always at work in our lives and in the world around us.