Daily Readings - Tue Aug 20 2019
Judges
11Then an Angel of the Lord arrived, and he sat under an oak tree, which was at Ophrah, and which belonged to Joash, the father of the family of Ezri. And while his son Gideon was threshing and cleaning the grain at the winepress, so that he might flee from Midian12the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and he said: "The Lord is with you, most valiant of men.13And Gideon said to him: "I beg you, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why have these things happened to us? Where are his miracles, which our fathers described when they said, ‘The Lord led us away from Egypt.’ But now the Lord has forsaken us, and he has delivered us into the hand of Midian.14And the Lord looked down upon him, and he said: "Go forth with this, your strength, and you shall free Israel from the hand of Midian. Know that I have sent you.15And responding, he said: "I beg you, my lord, with what shall I free Israel? Behold, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in the house of my father.16And the Lord said to him: "I will be with you. And so, you shall cut down Midian as if one man.17And he said: "If I have found grace before you, give me a sign that it is you who is speaking to me18And may you not withdraw from here, until I return to you, carrying a sacrifice and offering it to you." And he responded, "I will wait for your return.19And so Gideon entered, and he boiled a goat, and he made unleavened bread from a measure of flour. And setting the flesh in a basket, and putting the broth of the flesh in a pot, he took it all under the oak tree, and he offered it to him20And the Angel of the Lord said to him, "Take the flesh and the unleavened bread, and place them on that rock, and pour out the broth upon it." And when he had done so21the Angel of the Lord extended the end of a staff, which he was holding in his hand, and he touched the flesh and the unleavened loaves. And a fire ascended from the rock, and it consumed the flesh and the unleavened loaves. Then the Angel of the Lord vanished from his sight22And Gideon, realizing that it had been the Angel of the Lord, said: "Alas, my Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.23And the Lord said to him: "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid; you shall not die.24Therefore, Gideon built an altar to the Lord there, and he called it, the Peace of the Lord, even to the present day. And while he was still at Ophrah, which is of the family of Ezri
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
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on trust and faith in God. The first reading from Judges introduces us to Gideon, a young man who feels inadequate and questions God's presence in his life. Despite his doubts, an angel assures him of God's support, and a miraculous sign reinforces his calling. This story reminds us that God often chooses the unlikely and that our perceived weaknesses can become strengths when we trust in Him.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus discussing the challenges of wealth and salvation. He uses the striking image of a camel passing through a needle's eye to illustrate how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This teaching isn't about condemning wealth but about highlighting the importance of not letting material possessions overshadow our spiritual lives. Jesus reassures His disciples that with God, all things are possible, emphasizing the need for faith and trust.
Both readings converge on the theme of trusting God beyond human limitations. Gideon's story shows that even in our insecurities, God's grace can transform us. Jesus' teaching challenges us to prioritize spiritual wealth over material comfort. In our daily lives, this means trusting God's plan, even when it seems uncertain, and focusing on what truly matters—our relationship with Him. As we navigate life's challenges, let us embrace the courage to trust in God's providence and seek a deeper connection with Him, knowing that true fulfillment comes from following His will.