Daily Readings - Tue Aug 13 2019
Deuteronomy
1And so, Moses went out, and he spoke all these words to all of Israel2And he said to them: "Today, I am one hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to go out and return, especially since the Lord has also said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.3Therefore, the Lord your God will go across before you. He himself will abolish all these nations in your sight, and you shall possess them. And this man Joshua shall go across before you, just as the Lord has spoken4And the Lord will do to them just as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, and he will wipe them away5Therefore, when the Lord will have delivered these to you also, you shall act similarly toward them, just as I have instructed you6Act manfully and be strengthened. Do not be afraid, and do not dread at the sight of them. For the Lord your God himself is your commander, and he will neither dismiss nor abandon you.7And Moses called Joshua, and, before all of Israel, he said to him: ‘Be strong and valiant. For you shall lead this people into the land which the Lord swore that he would give to their fathers, and you shall divide it by lot8And the Lord, who is your commander, will himself be with you. He will neither renounce nor abandon you. Do not be afraid, and do not dread.
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 heaven12How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray13And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray14Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to humility and care for one another. In the first reading, Moses, nearing the end of his life, encourages the Israelites to trust in God as they prepare to enter the Promised Land without him. He reminds them that God will go before them, fight for them, and remain with them always. This passage emphasizes the importance of faith and courage in the face of uncertainty. Moses also commissions Joshua as their new leader, assuring him that God will be with him just as He was with Moses. The reading reminds us that leadership is not about self-reliance but about trusting in God’s presence and guidance.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples about the kingdom of heaven by using the example of a little child. He emphasizes that humility and openness, like that of a child, are essential for entering the kingdom. Jesus also warns against despising or neglecting the “little ones,” reminding us that each person, especially the vulnerable, is precious in God’s eyes. The parable of the lost sheep reinforces this message, showing that God’s love is not about the majority but about caring for each individual, even the one who has gone astray. This teaching challenges us to examine how we treat others, especially those who may seem insignificant or overlooked.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust and care. Moses trusts in God’s plan and encourages others to do the same, while Jesus teaches us to trust in God’s love and to care for one another, especially the vulnerable. In our daily lives, we are called to live with faith in God’s presence, even when we face challenges or uncertainties. We are also reminded to approach life with humility and to treat everyone with dignity and compassion. Let us ask ourselves: Do I trust in God’s plan for my life? Do I see the value and dignity in every person I encounter? May these readings inspire us to live with greater faith, humility, and love for one another.