Daily Readings - Wed Jun 19 2024
2 Kings
1When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.6Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two of them walked on.7Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.8Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.10"You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-otherwise not."11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.12Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.13He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.14Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
Matthew
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound lessons about humility, faith, and the true nature of spirituality. The first reading from 2 Kings recounts the dramatic moment when Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, leaving behind his mantle for Elisha. This scene is not just a display of divine power but a testament to the enduring nature of God’s mission. Elisha, who had faithfully followed Elijah, requests a double portion of his spirit, not for personal glory but to continue the work entrusted to him. The story reminds us that our faith is not about seeking recognition but about faithfully carrying forward the mission God has given us.
The Gospel reading from Matthew complements this theme as Jesus teaches about the importance of living our faith with humility. He warns against performing acts of piety—such as giving alms, praying, or fasting—solely for the approval of others. True righteousness, Jesus emphasizes, is not about outward appearances but about an inner disposition that seeks to please God alone. This teaching challenges us to examine our motivations and to ensure that our actions are rooted in a genuine relationship with God, rather than a desire for human praise.
These readings invite us to reflect on the state of our own spiritual lives. Like Elisha, we are called to embrace the mission God has entrusted to us, not for personal gain but out of love and fidelity. And like the teachings of Jesus, we are reminded that true spirituality is not about what others see but about the sincerity of our hearts. Let us strive to live our faith with humility and authenticity, trusting that God, who sees in secret, will reward us far beyond what the world can offer.