Daily Readings - Mon Aug 01 2022
Jeremiah
1In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:2"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.3Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD's house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.4I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,' declares the LORD, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"5Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD.6He said, "Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the LORD's house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.7Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:8From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.9But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true."10Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,11and he said before all the people, "This is what the LORD says: 'In the same way will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.'" At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.12Shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:13"Go and tell Hananiah, 'This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.14This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.'"15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.16Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'"17In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
Matthew
13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."17"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.18"Bring them here to me," he said.19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and God's providence. The first reading from Jeremiah describes a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and Hananiah, a false prophet who falsely claims that the yoke of Babylon will be broken within two years. Jeremiah, guided by God, counters this by explaining that Hananiah's words are not from the Lord, emphasizing that true prophecy must be tested by time and fidelity to God's word. This passage underscores the importance of discernment and trust in God's timing, even when faced with false assurances.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a different scenario, one of abundance and divine provision. Jesus, moved by compassion for the crowds, multiplies five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. This miracle is not just about meeting physical needs but also about trusting in God's providence. Just as the disciples initially saw only scarcity, we often focus on our limitations. Yet, Jesus shows that even the smallest offerings, when surrendered to God, can yield extraordinary results.
Together, these readings invite us to trust in God's plan and timing. Like Jeremiah, we must discern between true and false promises, remaining faithful even when the future seems uncertain. Like the disciples, we are called to trust that God can multiply our efforts and resources beyond our imagination. In our daily lives, this means surrendering our anxieties and limitations to God, trusting that He will provide in ways we cannot foresee. May we cultivate the patience and faith to trust in His providence, knowing that He is always at work, even when we cannot see the full picture.