Daily Readings - Fri Aug 05 2022
Nahum
15Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.
2The LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines.
1Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!2The crack of whips, the clatter of wheels, galloping horses and jolting chariots!3Charging cavalry, flashing swords and glittering spears! Many casualties, piles of dead, bodies without number, people stumbling over the corpses-6I will pelt you with filth, I will treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.7All who see you will flee from you and say, 'Nineveh is in ruins-who will mourn for her?' Where can I find anyone to comfort you?"
Matthew
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Sermon
The first reading from the Prophet Nahum paints a vivid picture of judgment and consequence. Nineveh, once a city spared by God’s mercy when Jonah preached repentance, has returned to its sinful ways. Nahum announces the fall of Nineveh, describing its corruption, violence, and bloodshed. The city, once given a chance to turn back to God, now faces devastation and ruin. This reading serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God’s call to repentance and living in defiance of His will. The prophet’s words are a call to reflect on our own lives and the choices we make, lest we suffer a similar fate.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the cost of following Him. He calls them to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, emphasizing that true life is found in losing oneself for His sake. This teaching is both a challenge and an invitation. It challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and attachments, recognizing that worldly gain is worthless compared to the value of our souls. At the same time, it invites us to embrace a life of self-sacrificial love, trusting that God’s plan for us is far greater than anything we could imagine.
Together, these readings remind us that our choices have consequences. Nahum’s prophecy warns us about the dangers of stubborn sin and the refusal to turn back to God, while Jesus’ words in the Gospel offer us a path of hope and transformation. As we navigate our daily lives, let us examine our hearts and actions. Are we living in a way that honors God, or are we allowing sin and selfishness to take root? Let us turn to the Lord with humility and courage, embracing the cross and following Jesus, for it is only in doing so that we will find true life and fulfillment.