Daily Readings - Wed Aug 16 2017

First Reading - Deuteronomy 34.1-12

¹Therefore, Moses ascended from the plains of Moab onto Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, opposite Jericho. And the Lord revealed to him the entire land of Gilead, as far as Dan²and all of Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire land of Judah, even to the furthest sea³and the southern region, and the breadth of the plain of Jericho, the city of palms, as far as Zoar⁴And the Lord said to him: "This is the land, about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring. You have seen it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over to it.⁵And Moses, the servant of the Lord, died in that place, in the land of Moab, by order of the Lord⁶And he buried him in the valley of the land of Moab, opposite Peor. And no man knows where his sepulcher is, even to the present day⁷Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dimmed, nor were his teeth displaced⁸And the sons of Israel wept for him in the plains of Moab for thirty days. And then the days of their wailing, during which they mourned Moses, were completed⁹Truly, Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the sons of Israel were obedient to him, and they did as the Lord instructed Moses¹⁰And no other prophet rose up in Israel like Moses, one whom the Lord knew face to face¹¹one with all the signs and wonders, which he sent through him, to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land¹²nor one with such a powerful hand and such great miracles as Moses did in the sight of all Israel

Gospel - Matthew 18.15-20

Matthew

Chapter 18

¹⁵But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother¹⁶But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses¹⁷And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector¹⁸Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven¹⁹Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven²⁰For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we reflect on the themes of leadership, transition, and community, woven together by the thread of faith and obedience. The first reading from Deuteronomy brings us to the end of Moses’ journey, as he stands on Mount Nebo, gazing upon the Promised Land he would not enter. This moment is both a celebration of Moses’ faithfulness and a poignant reminder of the human condition—our limitations and the trust we must place in God’s plan. Moses, the great leader, dies in obedience to God’s will, and the mantle of leadership passes to Joshua, who is filled with the spirit of wisdom. This transition reminds us that while individuals may fade, God’s work continues through others. The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the dynamics of community life. Jesus teaches us how to handle conflicts with love and justice, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and the role of the community in maintaining harmony. The process of correcting a brother privately, then with witnesses, and finally involving the Church, reflects a deep respect for the dignity of each person and the need for accountability. Jesus also reminds us of the power of prayer and agreement in community, assuring us that when two or three gather in His name, He is present among them. This teaching invites us to see our relationships and conflicts as opportunities to grow in holiness and to seek God’s will together. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to embrace both the humility of leadership and the responsibility of community. Like Moses, we must trust in God’s plan, even when we do not see the full picture. Like Joshua, we must step forward with courage, relying on the wisdom and grace God provides. And like the disciples, we must approach conflicts with love and seek reconciliation, remembering that our unity is a testament to God’s presence among us. Let us strive to live as people of faith, trusting in God’s plan, seeking harmony in our relationships, and gathering in prayer, knowing that Christ is always with us.