Daily Readings - Tue Oct 02 2018
Exodus
20Behold, I will send my Angel, who will go before you, and preserve you on your journey, and lead you into the place that I have prepared21Heed him, and hear his voice, and do not hold him in disregard. For he will not release you when you have sinned, and my name is in him22But if you listen to his voice and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will afflict those who afflict you23And my Angel will go before you, and he will bring you to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, whom I will crush
Matthew
1In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst3And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven5And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me10See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of divine guidance and humility. In Exodus, God promises to send an angel to guide the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of heeding this divine messenger. This passage underscores God's providential care and the necessity of trust and obedience. In Matthew, Jesus teaches that humility, exemplified by the innocence of a child, is essential for entering the kingdom of heaven. He also highlights the special protection and dignity of the vulnerable, noting that their angels are always in God's presence.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God's plan. The angel in Exodus represents God's active presence guiding His people, while the child in Matthew symbolizes the humility required to follow God's will. Together, they remind us that our journey with God requires both trust in His guidance and a humble heart open to His teachings.
In our daily lives, we can apply these lessons by seeking to trust in God's providence, even when the path is unclear. Embracing humility allows us to approach life with the openness and simplicity of a child, recognizing the inherent dignity in all people. Let us strive to live with faith and humility, trusting in God's plan and valuing the vulnerable, as we journey toward the kingdom of heaven.