Daily Readings - Wed Aug 14 2019
Deuteronomy
1Therefore, Moses ascended from the plains of Moab onto Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, opposite Jericho. And the Lord revealed to him the entire land of Gilead, as far as Dan2and all of Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire land of Judah, even to the furthest sea3and the southern region, and the breadth of the plain of Jericho, the city of palms, as far as Zoar4And the Lord said to him: "This is the land, about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring. You have seen it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over to it.5And Moses, the servant of the Lord, died in that place, in the land of Moab, by order of the Lord6And he buried him in the valley of the land of Moab, opposite Peor. And no man knows where his sepulcher is, even to the present day7Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dimmed, nor were his teeth displaced8And the sons of Israel wept for him in the plains of Moab for thirty days. And then the days of their wailing, during which they mourned Moses, were completed9Truly, Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the sons of Israel were obedient to him, and they did as the Lord instructed Moses10And no other prophet rose up in Israel like Moses, one whom the Lord knew face to face11one with all the signs and wonders, which he sent through him, to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land12nor one with such a powerful hand and such great miracles as Moses did in the sight of all Israel
Matthew
15But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother16But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses17And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector18Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven19Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven20For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two significant moments in the history of God's people, each offering profound insights into leadership, community, and faith. The first reading from Deuteronomy 34:1-12 describes Moses' final moments, where he is shown the Promised Land but does not enter it. This scene marks the end of an era, as Moses, the great leader, passes on, and Joshua takes up the mantle, guided by the wisdom imparted by Moses. The Israelites mourn Moses, acknowledging his pivotal role, yet they also look forward under Joshua's leadership.
The Gospel from Matthew 18:15-20 shifts focus to Jesus' teachings on conflict resolution and community dynamics. Jesus outlines a structured approach to addressing sins within the community: starting privately, then involving a few others, and finally the whole Church. This process emphasizes reconciliation and the binding authority of communal decisions. Jesus also assures that where two or three gather in His name, He is present, highlighting the sacred nature of communal gatherings.
These readings remind us of the importance of community and reconciliation in our daily lives. Just as Moses trusted God's plan despite not entering the Promised Land, we must trust in God's larger plan, even when our own roles seem limited. The structured approach to conflict resolution in the Gospel encourages us to seek reconciliation and value collective wisdom. Ultimately, the moral lesson is clear: our faith journey is not solitary but communal, and we are called to live in harmony, guided by God's presence among us.