Daily Readings - Tue Jul 04 2017

First Reading - Genesis 19.15-29

¹⁵And when it was morning, the Angels compelled him, saying, "Arise, take your wife, and the two daughters that you have, lest you also should perish amid the wickedness of the city.¹⁶And, since he ignored them, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, as well as that of his two daughters, because the Lord was sparing him¹⁷And they brought him out, and placed him beyond the city. And there they spoke to him, saying: "Save your life. Do not look not back. Neither should you stay in the entire surrounding region. But save yourself in the mountain, lest you also should perish.¹⁸And Lot said to them: "I beg you, my lord¹⁹though your servant has found grace before you, and you have magnified your mercy, which you have shown to me in saving my life, I cannot be saved on the mountain, lest perhaps some misfortune take hold of me and I die²⁰There is a certain city nearby, to which I can flee; it is a little one, and I will be saved in it. Is it not a modest one, and will not my soul live?²¹And he said to him: "Behold, even now, I have heard your petitions about this, not to overturn the city on behalf of which you have spoken²²Hurry and be saved there. For I cannot do anything until you enter there." For this reason, the name of that city is called Zoar²³The sun had risen over the land, and Lot had entered into Zoar²⁴Therefore, the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah sulphur and fire, from the Lord, out of heaven²⁵And he overturned these cities, and all the surrounding region: all the inhabitants of the cities, and everything that springs from the land²⁶And his wife, looking behind herself, was turned into a statue of salt²⁷Then Abraham, rising up in the morning, in the place where he had stood before with the Lord²⁸looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and the entire land of that region. And he saw embers rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace²⁹For when God overthrew the cities of that region, remembering Abraham, he freed Lot from the overthrow of the cities, in which he had dwelt

Gospel - Matthew 8.23-27

Matthew

Chapter 8

²³And climbing into a boat, his disciples followed him²⁴And behold, a great tempest occurred in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with waves; yet truly, he was sleeping²⁵And his disciples drew near to him, and they awakened him, saying: "Lord, save us, we are perishing.²⁶And Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" Then rising up, he commanded the winds, and the sea. And a great tranquility occurred²⁷Moreover, the men wondered, saying: "What kind of man is this? For even the winds and the sea obey him.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and faith in God's providence. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, Abraham's nephew, finds himself in a precarious situation as the angels of the Lord urge him to flee the wicked cities. Despite his hesitation, the angels guide him and his family to safety, though his wife's glance back results in her turning into a pillar of salt. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of trusting in God's plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus and His disciples facing a tempest while on a boat. The disciples, overwhelmed by fear, awaken Jesus, who calmly commands the storm to cease, demonstrating His divine authority over nature. This miracle not only showcases Jesus' power but also highlights the disciples' journey from fear to faith, urging us to trust in God's presence during life's turbulent moments. These readings interconnectedly remind us that faith is not about the absence of fear but about trusting in God's providence amidst life's challenges. Just as Lot needed to trust the angels and the disciples needed to trust Jesus, we too are called to place our trust in God. In our daily lives, we face our own storms—whether personal struggles, uncertainties, or global crises. Let us draw strength from these stories, remembering that God is always with us, guiding us through the chaos. May we, like the disciples, move from fear to faith, trusting that God's plan is greater than our understanding.