Daily Readings - Tue Jul 01 2025
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 profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God's providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Lot and his family fleeing Sodom as the city faces destruction. The angels urge Lot to escape without looking back, a command his wife tragically disobeys, turning her into a pillar of salt. This story underscores the gravity of God's judgment and the importance of heeding divine warnings. The second reading from Matthew describes Jesus calming a tempest while aboard a boat with his disciples. Despite the turmoil, Jesus demonstrates his divine authority by commanding the winds and sea to still, leaving the disciples in awe.
Both narratives highlight the theme of trust and faith. In Genesis, Lot's hesitation and his wife's glance back symbolize the human tendency to cling to the familiar, even when it is sinful. Conversely, the disciples in Matthew, though fearful, turn to Jesus for salvation, illustrating the need to trust in God's power and care. These stories remind us that faith is not merely belief but also action—moving forward without looking back and trusting in God's plan, even in the face of uncertainty.
In our daily lives, we often face storms, whether literal or metaphorical. Like the disciples, we may feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, but Jesus' words, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" invite us to examine our trust in God. Like Lot, we may be tempted to hold on to what is familiar or comfortable, even when it is not in line with God's will. These readings encourage us to move forward with courage, trusting in God's providence and guidance. Let us strive to deepen our faith, knowing that God is always with us, even in the midst of turmoil, and that He will lead us to safety if we trust in Him.