Daily Readings - Sat Jul 02 2022

¹¹"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be,¹²so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name, "declares the LORD, who will do these things.¹³"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills.¹⁴I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.¹⁵I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.

Matthew

Chapter 9

¹⁴Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"¹⁵Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.¹⁶"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.¹⁷Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, renewal, and trust in God's plan. The First Reading from Amos paints a vivid picture of restoration, where the tabernacle of David is rebuilt, and Israel prospers once more. This vision, born out of a time of despair, reminds us of God's faithfulness and His promise to restore His people. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus, who uses the analogy of the groom and new wineskins to illustrate the necessity of embracing newness. He explains that His disciples do not fast because they are in the presence of the bridegroom, symbolizing the joy and renewal He brings. These readings are intricately connected, as both point to the idea that God's plan often requires us to let go of the old to make way for the new. Amos' prophecy of restoration and Jesus' teaching on new wineskins remind us that our structures and ways of thinking must be open to transformation. Just as old wineskins cannot hold new wine, our hearts and minds must be receptive to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. In our daily lives, this means embracing change and trusting in God's plan, even when it challenges our comfort. We are called to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, allowing Him to bring new life and renewal. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we holding on to old ways that prevent us from fully embracing God's newness? Let us trust in His promise to restore and renew us, just as He has done throughout history. May we have the courage to let go and allow God to work in our lives, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him.