Daily Readings - Mon Aug 13 2018

²On the fifth of the month, the same is the fifth year of the transmigration of king Joachin³the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, a priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, next to the river Chebar. And the hand of the Lord was over him there⁴And I saw, and behold, a whirlwind arrived from the north. And a great cloud, wrapped in fire and brightness, was all around it. And from its midst, that is, from the midst of the fire, there was something with the appearance of amber⁵And in its midst, there was the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: the likeness of a man was in them²⁴And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the sublime God. When they walked, it was like the sound of a multitude, like the sound of an army. And when they stood still, their wings were let down²⁵For when a voice came from above the firmament, which was over their heads, they stood still, and they put down their wings²⁶And above the firmament, which was suspended over their heads, there was the likeness of a throne, with the appearance of the sapphire stone. And over the likeness of the throne, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man above it²⁷And I saw something with the appearance of amber, with the likeness of fire within it and all around it. And from his waist and upward, and from his waist downward, I saw something with the appearance of fire shining all around²⁸There was the appearance of the rainbow, as when it is in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the splendor on every side

Matthew

Chapter 17

²²And when they were conversing together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: "The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men²³And they will kill him, but he will rise again on the third day." And they were extremely saddened²⁴And when they had arrived at Capernaum, those who collected the half shekel approached Peter, and they said to him, "Doesn’t your Teacher pay the half shekel?²⁵He said, "Yes." And when he had entered into the house, Jesus went before him, saying: "How does it seem to you, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they receive tribute or the census tax: from their own sons or from foreigners?²⁶And he said, "From foreigners." Jesus said to him: "Then the sons are free²⁷But so that we may not become an obstacle to them: go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that is brought up, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them, for me and for you.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound visions and humble acts that invite us to reflect on God’s presence and purpose in our lives. Ezekiel’s vision of the whirlwind and the four living creatures is a dramatic display of God’s power and majesty, while Jesus’ prediction of His death and resurrection, followed by the miracle of the fish with the shekel, reveals His divine wisdom and humility. Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear or challenging. Ezekiel’s vision was a message of hope to the exiles in Babylon, reminding them that God’s presence was still with them, even in their suffering. Similarly, Jesus’ words to His disciples were a test of their faith, urging them to trust in His divine plan despite the sorrow it would bring. The miracle of the fish with the shekel shows Jesus’ willingness to fulfill the law while also demonstrating His power over creation. These readings remind us that God’s ways are not always easy to understand, but they are always rooted in love and wisdom. As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember to trust in God’s plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. May we approach life with humility, recognizing that our struggles are not without purpose. Just as Ezekiel and the disciples were called to faith, so too are we. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our trust in God’s presence and providence, and may we find strength in the knowledge that He is always with us.