Daily Readings - Tue Jul 11 2023
Genesis
22That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.23After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.25When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.26Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."27The man asked him, "What is your name?Jacob," he answered.28Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."29Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."31The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.32Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon.
Matthew
32While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.33And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."34But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of struggle, transformation, and mission. In the first reading from Genesis, we encounter Jacob, who, on his journey, wrestles with a mysterious figure—often interpreted as God or an angel—through the night. This intense struggle leaves Jacob with a limp but also with a new name, Israel, symbolizing his transformation and strength in his relationship with God. The Gospel reading shifts our focus to Jesus, who, after healing a mute man possessed by a demon, expresses compassion for the crowds and calls his disciples to pray for laborers to serve in the harvest of God’s kingdom. Both readings remind us that our struggles and encounters with God are not without purpose; they shape us and prepare us for the mission we are called to fulfill.
The context of these readings highlights the universal human experience of grappling with challenges and the divine. Jacob, a man with a complex past, is met by God in his vulnerability, and this encounter changes him forever. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus meets the brokenness of the world with healing and compassion, but he also recognizes the vastness of the need and calls for more workers in the vineyard. These stories remind us that our struggles, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, are not isolated events but opportunities for growth and transformation. They also challenge us to respond to God’s call to serve others, just as Jacob, now Israel, is called to lead his people, and Jesus calls his disciples to share in his mission.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to embrace our own struggles as moments of grace. Like Jacob, we may find ourselves wrestling with God, questioning, or seeking a blessing. Like the disciples, we are called to step out in faith and trust in God’s plan, even when the task seems daunting. The moral lesson here is one of perseverance and trust. Just as Jacob did not let go until he received a blessing, we too must hold fast to God, even in our darkest moments. And just as Jesus had compassion on the crowds, we are called to see the needs of those around us and respond with love and service. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I wrestling with God in my life? How am I being called to serve in the harvest? May we, like Jacob, emerge from our struggles transformed and ready to fulfill the mission God has entrusted to us.