Daily Readings - Wed Jul 24 2024
Jeremiah
1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.4The word of the LORD came to me, saying,5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."6"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.9Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth.10See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9He who has ears, let him hear."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of divine call and response. The first reading from Jeremiah recounts the prophet's humble beginnings and his initial hesitation when called by God. Despite feeling inadequate as "just a boy," Jeremiah is reassured by God, who promises to be with him and to place His words in his mouth. This passage underscores God's trust in us, even when we feel unprepared or unworthy.
The Gospel from Matthew presents Jesus' parable of the sower, which invites us to reflect on how we receive God's word. The seeds that fall on fertile soil produce abundant fruit, while those on rocky or thorny ground do not. This parable challenges us to consider the condition of our hearts and our willingness to nurture God's message in our lives.
These readings are intricately connected. Jeremiah's call to speak God's word and the parable of the sower both emphasize our role as recipients and responders to God's message. Just as Jeremiah was called to proclaim, we are called to listen and receive with open hearts. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan and cultivate a heart that is receptive and fertile ground for His word.
As we apply this to our daily lives, let us reflect on our receptiveness to God's message. Do we allow His word to take root, or do we let distractions or hardness of heart hinder its growth? Let us strive to be like the fertile soil, bearing fruit abundantly. May we trust in God's presence and guidance, just as Jeremiah did, and may our hearts remain open to the seeds of faith, hope, and love that God sows in us.