Daily Readings - Mon Aug 20 2018
Ezekiel
15And the word of the Lord came to me, saying16"Son of man, behold, I am taking away from you, with a stroke, the desire of your eyes. And you shall not lament, and you shall not weep. And your tears shall not flow down17Groan silently; you shall make no mourning for the dead. Let the band of your crown be on you, and let your shoes be on your feet. And you shall not cover your face, nor shall you eat the food of those who mourn.18Therefore, I spoke to the people in the morning. And my wife died in the evening. And in the morning, I did just as he had instructed me19And the people said to me: "Why won’t you explain to us what these things signify, which you are doing?20And I said to them: "The word of the Lord came to me, saying21‘Speak to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will defile my sanctuary, the pride of your realm, and the desire of your eyes, and the dread of your soul. Your sons and your daughters, whom you have forsaken, will fall by the sword.22And so, you shall do just as I have done. You shall not cover your faces, and you shall not eat the food of those who mourn23You shall have crowns on your heads, and shoes on your feet. You shall not lament, and you shall not weep. Instead, you will waste away in your iniquities, and each one will groan to his brother24‘And Ezekiel shall be a portent for you. In accord with all that he has done, so shall you do, when this will happen. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.’
Matthew
16And behold, someone approached and said to him, "Good Teacher, what good should I do, so that I may have eternal life?17And he said to him: "Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.18He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said: "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony19Honor your father and your mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.20The young man said to him: "All these I have kept from my childhood. What is still lacking for me?21Jesus said to him: "If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.22And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad, for he had many possessions
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our commitment to God and our detachment from worldly attachments. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a prophet who is asked by God to endure the loss of his wife without mourning, serving as a sign to the people of Israel of the impending judgment they will face. This stark message underscores the gravity of their sins and the necessity of accepting God's will without complaint. Ezekiel's obedience, despite personal grief, illustrates a deep trust in God's plan, even when it is difficult to understand.
The Gospel reading from Matthew introduces a rich young man who approaches Jesus, seeking eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, and the man claims to have followed them all. However, when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and follow Him, the man hesitates, unable to part with his wealth. This encounter highlights the challenge of material detachment and the radical commitment required for discipleship. The man's sadness reflects the struggle between worldly attachments and spiritual aspirations.
Both readings challenge us to examine our own commitments and attachments. Ezekiel's story calls us to trust in God's providence, even in times of loss or hardship. The Gospel invites us to consider what holds us back from fully following Christ. In our daily lives, we are called to let go of the things that hinder our relationship with God, whether they be material possessions or emotional attachments. The moral lesson here is one of faith and detachment—trusting in God's will and being willing to sacrifice for a deeper spiritual life. May we, like Ezekiel, embrace God's plan with courage and, like the rich young man, reflect on what may be holding us back from following Christ more fully.