Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 23, 2017

First Reading: Judges 9.6-15

⁶Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem⁷When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: "Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you⁸The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.⁹And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?¹⁰And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.¹¹And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?¹²And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.¹³And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?¹⁴And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.¹⁵And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

Psalm 21

Psalms

Chapter 21

¹Unto the end. A Psalm of David. In your virtue, Lord, the king will rejoice, and over your salvation, he will exult exceedingly²You have granted him the desire of his heart, and you have not cheated him of the wish of his lips³For you have gone ahead of him with blessings of sweetness. You have placed a crown of precious stones on his head⁴He petitioned you for life, and you have granted him length of days, in the present time, and forever and ever⁵Great is his glory in your salvation. Glory and great adornment, you will lay upon him⁶For you will give him as a blessing forever and ever. You will make him rejoice with gladness in your presence⁷Because the king hopes in the Lord, and in the mercy of the Most High, he will not be disturbed⁸May your hand be found by all your enemies. May your right hand discover all those who hate you⁹You will make them like an oven of fire, in the time of your presence. The Lord will stir them up with his wrath, and fire will devour them¹⁰You will destroy their fruit from the earth and their offspring from the sons of men¹¹For they have turned evils upon you; they have devised plans, which they have not been able to accomplish¹²For you will make them turn their back; with your remnants, you will prepare their countenance¹³Be exalted, Lord, by your own power. We will play music and sing psalms to your virtues

Sermon

The reading from Judges presents a parable spoken by Jotham, the son of Gideon, in response to the people of Shechem appointing Abimelech as their king. Jotham uses the metaphor of trees seeking a king to critique the shortsightedness and self-interest of the people. The olive tree, fig tree, and vine—all fruitful and beneficial—refuse to abandon their purpose to reign, while the bramble, a thorny and useless plant, accepts the role, warning that if the people do not submit to its rule, it will bring destruction. This parable serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of choosing leaders who prioritize power over the common good. In this story, Jotham highlights the importance of humility and selflessness in leadership. The fruitful trees recognize the value of their current roles and refuse to abandon them for the sake of power, while the bramble, devoid of true worth, grasps at authority and threatens harm. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God’s displeasure with those who seek power for its own sake, rather than serving others. The context of Jotham’s speech is one of sorrow and warning, as he sees the people of Shechem making a choice that will lead to their downfall. In our daily lives, this parable challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes toward leadership and service. Do we seek positions of influence for personal gain, or do we humbly serve others, recognizing the value of our current roles? Jotham’s words remind us that true leadership is not about dominance but about fostering the well-being of others. As we navigate our own choices and relationships, let us strive to emulate the olive tree, fig tree, and vine—remaining faithful to our responsibilities and trusting in God’s providence, rather than succumbing to the temptation of power that harms others.