Daily Readings - Sat Aug 05 2017
First Reading - Leviticus 25.1, 8-17
Leviticus
1And the Lord spoke to Moses on mount Sinai, saying8You shall also number for yourselves seven weeks of years, that is, seven times seven, which together makes forty-nine years9And you shall sound the trumpet in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, at the time of the atonement, throughout all your land10And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year, and you shall proclaim a remission for all the inhabitants of your land: for the same is the Jubilee. A man shall return to his possession, and each one shall go back to his original family11for it is the Jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not sow, and you shall not reap what grows in the field of its own accord, and you shall not gather the first-fruits of the crop12due to the sanctification of the Jubilee. But you shall eat them as they present themselves13In the year of the Jubilee, all shall return to their possessions14When you will sell anything to your fellow citizen, or buy anything from him, do not cause your brother grief, but buy from him according to the number of years from the Jubilee15and he shall sell to you according to the computation of the produce16The more years that will remain after the Jubilee, the more the price shall increase, and the less the time is numbered, so much less shall the purchase price be. For he will sell to you the time for the produce17Do not be willing to afflict your countrymen, but let each one fear his God. For I am the Lord your God
Gospel - Matthew 14.1-12
Matthew
1In that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the news about Jesus2And he said to his servants: "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miracles are at work in him.3For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother4For John was telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her.5And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet6Then, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in their midst, and it pleased Herod7And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of him8But, having been advised by her mother, she said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.9And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given10And he sent and beheaded John in prison11And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother12And his disciples approached and took the body, and they buried it. And arriving, they reported it to Jesus
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of justice, integrity, and the consequences of our choices. In the first reading from Leviticus, we hear about the Jubilee year, a time when debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its original owners. This practice was meant to restore balance and equality among God’s people, ensuring that no one would be permanently disadvantaged. It was a reminder that everything belongs to God, and we are only stewards of His creation. The Jubilee year was not just an economic or social policy but a deeply spiritual one, calling the people to live in harmony with God’s will and to trust in His providence.
In the Gospel, we see a stark contrast as Herod’s story unfolds. Herod, influenced by his sinful desires and fear of losing face, orders the beheading of John the Baptist. John had spoken the truth, calling out Herod’s immoral union with his brother’s wife, and for that, he paid the ultimate price. This passage reminds us of the cost of integrity and the dangers of allowing sin to take root in our hearts. Herod’s actions were driven by pride and fear, leading to a tragic outcome that could have been avoided if he had chosen to repent and seek justice.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Like the Jubilee, we are called to live in a way that promotes fairness, compassion, and trust in God’s plan. We must not let sin and pride guide our decisions, as Herod did, but instead, we must strive to live with integrity, even when it is difficult. In our daily lives, this might mean standing up for what is right, even if it is unpopular, or letting go of grudges and injustices, just as the Jubilee required. Let us pray for the courage to follow God’s will and to trust in His justice, remembering that true freedom comes from living in harmony with His commandments.