Daily Readings - Sat Aug 03 2019
Leviticus
1And the Lord spoke to Moses on mount Sinai, saying8You shall also number for yourselves seven weeks of years, that is, seven times seven, which together makes forty-nine years9And you shall sound the trumpet in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, at the time of the atonement, throughout all your land10And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year, and you shall proclaim a remission for all the inhabitants of your land: for the same is the Jubilee. A man shall return to his possession, and each one shall go back to his original family11for it is the Jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not sow, and you shall not reap what grows in the field of its own accord, and you shall not gather the first-fruits of the crop12due to the sanctification of the Jubilee. But you shall eat them as they present themselves13In the year of the Jubilee, all shall return to their possessions14When you will sell anything to your fellow citizen, or buy anything from him, do not cause your brother grief, but buy from him according to the number of years from the Jubilee15and he shall sell to you according to the computation of the produce16The more years that will remain after the Jubilee, the more the price shall increase, and the less the time is numbered, so much less shall the purchase price be. For he will sell to you the time for the produce17Do not be willing to afflict your countrymen, but let each one fear his God. For I am the Lord your God
Matthew
1In that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the news about Jesus2And he said to his servants: "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miracles are at work in him.3For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother4For John was telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her.5And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet6Then, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in their midst, and it pleased Herod7And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of him8But, having been advised by her mother, she said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.9And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given10And he sent and beheaded John in prison11And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother12And his disciples approached and took the body, and they buried it. And arriving, they reported it to Jesus
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on justice, morality, and the consequences of our actions. In Leviticus, we hear about the Jubilee year, a time of restoration and equality, where debts are forgiven and land is returned to its rightful owners. This practice, rooted in God’s command, emphasizes fairness and compassion, reminding us that true justice is not just about punishment but about restoration and new beginnings. It challenges us to consider how we can promote equity and mercy in our own lives and society.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very different scenario. Herod, trapped by his desires and fears, orders the beheading of John the Baptist. This tragic event highlights the consequences of sin and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. John’s courage to speak truth to power, even at great personal cost, serves as a powerful example of fidelity to God’s will. Herod’s actions, on the other hand, reveal the destructive power of pride and the fear of losing control.
Together, these readings call us to live lives grounded in God’s justice and mercy. The Jubilee reminds us of the importance of fairness and compassion, while John the Baptist’s martyrdom challenges us to remain faithful and courageous in the face of moral compromise. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to create a world where justice and mercy reign, and let us have the courage to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. May we, like John, be bold in proclaiming God’s truth, and may we, like the Jubilee, bring restoration and hope to those around us.