Daily Readings - Sat Jul 09 2022
Isaiah
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.2Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.3And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.5"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."6Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.7With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Matthew
24"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.25It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!26"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to humility, courage, and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading, Isaiah describes his profound encounter with God in the temple, where he is overcome by a sense of unworthiness because of his "unclean lips." Yet, through the purifying action of the burning coal, he is cleansed and empowered to respond to God’s call, saying, "Here I am. Send me." This passage reminds us that God’s grace can transform our limitations and fears into a willingness to serve His mission. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the challenges they will face, urging them not to fear those who can harm the body but to trust in the Father’s care. He reminds them that even the smallest details of their lives are known to God, and they are worth more than many sparrows. Jesus calls them—and us—to acknowledge Him without shame, even in the face of adversity.
These readings are deeply connected. Both Isaiah and the disciples are called to a mission that requires humility and courage. Isaiah’s vision in the temple is a moment of profound humility, where he recognizes his sinfulness but is purified and sent forth. Similarly, Jesus’ disciples are called to embrace their mission with faith, trusting that God will provide the strength they need. The common thread is the invitation to step out in faith, despite feelings of inadequacy or fear, and to rely on God’s grace and providence.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our own response to God’s call. Do we, like Isaiah, humbly acknowledge our limitations and allow God to transform us? Do we, like the disciples, trust in God’s care even when the path ahead seems uncertain or difficult? The moral lesson is clear: our worth and identity come from God, and He equips us to face any challenge. Let us pray for the courage to embrace our mission, whatever it may be, and to trust in the Father’s loving care.