Daily Readings - Wed Oct 02 2019
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
In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of guidance, humility, and the presence of God in our lives. The first reading from Exodus describes God's promise to send an angel to lead the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. This angel is not just a guide but also a protector, bearing God's name and authority. The reading emphasizes the importance of heeding this divine guidance, for it is through obedience that the Israelites will overcome their enemies and reach the land prepared for them. The context is one of trust and reliance on God's providence, even in the face of uncertainty and challenge.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the humility required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus uses the example of a little child to illustrate the kind of simplicity and trust that should characterize our relationship with God. The disciples, caught up in their own ambitions and debates about greatness, are reminded that true greatness lies in humility and service. Jesus further emphasizes the dignity of the vulnerable, noting that even the "little ones" have angels in heaven who watch over them. This teaching challenges us to approach life with a childlike openness and to treat all people, especially the vulnerable, with reverence and care.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and with others. Like the Israelites, we are called to trust in God's guidance, even when the path ahead is unclear. Like the disciples, we are challenged to let go of our pride and ambition, embracing instead the humility and simplicity of a child. In our daily lives, this might mean listening more carefully to the "angels" God places in our lives—whether through Scripture, prayer, or the wisdom of others—and treating every person with the dignity they deserve as children of God. May we strive to live with the faith of a child and the courage to follow where God leads.