Daily Readings - Tue Aug 21 2018
Ezekiel
1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying2"Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre: Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart has been exalted, and you have said, ‘I am God, and I sit in the chair of God, in the heart of the sea,’ though you are a man, and not God, and because you have presented your heart as if it were the heart of God3Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is concealed from you4By your wisdom and prudence, you have made yourself strong, and you have acquired gold and silver for your storehouses5By the multitude of your wisdom, and by your business dealings, you have multiplied strength for yourself. And your heart has been exalted by your strength6Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Because your heart has been exalted as if it were the heart of God7for this reason, behold, I will lead over you foreigners, the most robust among the Gentiles. And they will bare their swords over the beauty of your wisdom, and they will defile your beauty8They will destroy you and pull you down. And you will die the death of those slain in the heart of the sea9So then, will you speak, in the presence of those who are destroying you, before the hand of those who are killing you, saying, ‘I am God,’ though you are a man, and not God10You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hand of foreigners. For I have spoken, says the Lord God.
Matthew
23Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, I say to you, that the wealthy shall enter with difficulty into the kingdom of heaven24And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for the wealthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven.25And upon hearing this, the disciples wondered greatly, saying: "Then who will be able to be saved?26But Jesus, gazing at them, said to them: "With men, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.27Then Peter responded by saying to him: "Behold, we have left behind all things, and we have followed you. So then, what will be for us?28And Jesus said to them: "Amen I say to you, that at the resurrection, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, those of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel29And anyone who has left behind home, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for the sake of my name, shall receive one hundred times more, and shall possess eternal life30But many of those who are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the dangers of pride and the illusion of self-sufficiency, while also offering hope in God’s providence and the promise of eternal life. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear a prophetic condemnation of the leader of Tyre, who has become so enamored with his own power and wisdom that he claims to be like God. Ezekiel warns that such arrogance will lead to a fall, as God will send foreigners to humble him. This passage reminds us that no matter how accomplished or powerful we may become, we are still human, and our strength and wisdom are gifts from God, not our own creation.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the challenges of wealth and the kingdom of heaven. He says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of God. This startling statement shocks the disciples, who wonder how anyone can be saved if wealth is such an obstacle. Jesus responds by emphasizing that while this is impossible for humans, it is possible with God. Peter then asks what will happen to those who have left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus assures them that they will be rewarded abundantly in eternal life. However, he also warns that many who seem first in this world will be last in the kingdom, and the last will be first.
These readings are connected by the theme of humility and trust in God. Ezekiel’s warning against pride and Jesus’ teaching on wealth both call us to recognize our limitations and to rely on God rather than our own strength or possessions. In our daily lives, we are tempted to trust in what we can see and control—our wealth, our achievements, our status. But the readings remind us that true strength comes from humility and faith. Let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize our dependence on God, or do we act as if we are self-sufficient? Are we willing to let go of worldly attachments to follow Christ more closely? The promise of eternal life is not about what we have, but about who we trust. May we learn to trust in God’s providence and to live with humility, knowing that true greatness is found in serving others and following Christ.