Daily Readings - Mon Mar 02 2020
Leviticus
1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying2Speak to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy11You shall not steal. You shall not lie. Neither shall anyone deceive his neighbor12You shall not commit perjury in my name, nor shall you pollute the name of your God. I am the Lord13You shall not slander your neighbor, nor shall you oppress him by violence. The wages of a hired hand, you shall not delay with you until tomorrow14You shall not speak evil of the deaf, nor shall you place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear the Lord your God, for I am the Lord15You shall not do what is unjust, nor shall you judge unjustly. You shall not consider the reputation of the poor, nor shall you honor the countenance of the powerful. Judge your neighbor justly16You shall not be a detractor, nor a whisperer, among the people. You shall not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am the Lord17You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but reprove him openly, lest you have sin over him18Do not seek revenge, neither should you be mindful of the injury of your fellow citizens. You shall love your friend as yourself. I am the Lord
Matthew
31But when the Son of man will have arrived in his majesty, and all the Angels with him, then he will sit upon the seat of his majesty32And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats33And he shall station the sheep, indeed, on his right, but the goats on his left34Then the King shall say to those who will be on his right: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father. Possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world35For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in36naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.37Then the just will answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when have we see you hungry, and fed you; thirsty, and given you drink38And when have we seen you a stranger, and taken you in? Or naked, and covered you39Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit to you?40And in response, the King shall say to them, ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.41Then he shall also say, to those who will be on his left: ‘Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels42For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me to drink43I was a stranger and you did not take me in; naked, and you did not cover me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.44Then they will also answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?45Then he shall respond to them by saying: ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did not do it to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.46And these shall go into eternal punishment, but the just shall go into eternal life.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between our faith and our actions. The first reading from Leviticus calls us to holiness, emphasizing the importance of ethical living and treating others with justice and compassion. The commands given to the Israelites—such as not stealing, not lying, and not oppressing others—serve as a blueprint for living a life that reflects God’s holiness. These instructions are not just about individual morality but about fostering a community where everyone is valued and respected. The reading challenges us to examine our daily interactions and ensure that our words and actions align with God’s command to “be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
The Gospel from Matthew expands on this theme, presenting a vivid image of the final judgment. Jesus separates people into two groups: the sheep who served the hungry, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned, and the goats who neglected these vulnerable individuals. The key insight here is that our relationship with God is revealed in how we treat those in need. Jesus identifies himself with the least among us, teaching that even the smallest acts of kindness are acts of love for him. This passage is not about earning salvation through good deeds but about recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through compassion and service to others.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways. The commands in Leviticus and the parable in Matthew call us to be attentive to the needs of those around us and to act with love and justice. In our daily lives, this might mean volunteering, advocating for the marginalized, or simply being present for a neighbor in need. The moral lesson is clear: our relationship with God is not just about what we believe but about how we live out those beliefs in service to others. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I treating those around me? Am I seeing Christ in the faces of those I encounter? May we strive to live with the holiness and compassion that God calls us to, knowing that our actions have eternal significance.