Daily Readings - Tue Jul 04 2023
Genesis
15With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished."16When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them.17As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"18But Lot said to them, "No, my lords, please!19Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die.20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it-it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."21He said to him, "Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of.22But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it." (That is why the town was called Zoar. )23By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land.24Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah-from the LORD out of the heavens.25Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities-and also the vegetation in the land.26But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.27Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.
Matthew
23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.27The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and faith in the face of adversity. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, warned by angels of the impending doom, is urged to flee. Despite the angels' guidance, Lot hesitates and requests to go to a nearby city, Zoar, instead of the mountains. His wife, however, looks back, turning her into a pillar of salt—a poignant reminder of the consequences of doubt and hesitation. Abraham, observing the destruction from a distance, is spared, illustrating God's mercy and remembrance.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a different yet complementary scenario. Jesus and his disciples encounter a tempest while on a boat. While Jesus sleeps, the disciples, fearing for their lives, awaken him. Jesus calms the storm, demonstrating his divine authority over nature. This miracle leaves the disciples in awe, pondering the kind of man who can command the winds and seas.
Both readings underscore the importance of trust and faith in times of crisis. In Genesis, Lot's story teaches us about the perils of looking back and the necessity of trusting God's plan. In Matthew, Jesus' calm amidst the storm reminds us of His presence and power in our lives. These narratives encourage us to face life's challenges with unwavering faith, trusting in God's providence and guidance. May we, like the disciples, recognize the divine presence in our midst and find peace in the midst of turmoil.