Daily Readings - Wed Aug 12 2020
Ezekiel
1And he cried out in my ears with a loud voice, saying: "The visitations of the city have drawn near, and each one has equipment for killing in his hand.2And behold, six men were approaching from the way of the upper gate, which looks to the north. And each one had equipment for killing in his hand. Also, one man in their midst was clothed with linen, and an instrument for writing was at his waist. And they entered and stood beside the bronze altar3And the glory of the Lord of Israel was taken up, from the cherub upon which he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called out to the man who was clothed with linen and had an instrument for writing at his waist4And the Lord said to him: "Cross through the middle of the city, in the center of Jerusalem, and seal a Tau upon the foreheads of the grieving men, who are mourning over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.5And he said to the others, in my hearing: "Cross through the city after him, and strike! Your eye shall not be lenient, and you shall not take pity6Kill, even to utter destruction, old men, young men, and virgins, little ones, and women. But all upon whom see the Tau, you shall not kill. And begin from my sanctuary." Therefore, they began with the men among the elders, who were before the face of the house7And he said to them: "Defile the house, and fill its courts with the slain! Go forth!" And they went forth and struck down those who were in the city
18And the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the temple, and stood above the cherubim19And the cherubim, lifting up their wings, were raised up from the earth in my sight. And as they went away, the wheels also followed. And it stood at the entrance to the east gate of the house of the Lord. And the glory of the God of Israel was over them20This is the living creature, which I saw under the God of Israel beside the river Chebar. And I understood that they were cherubim21Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. And the likeness of the hand of a man was under their wings22And, concerning the appearance of their faces, these were the same faces that I had seen beside the river Chebar, and the gaze and force of each one of them was to go before his face
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 profound lessons on judgment, mercy, and community. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a vision of divine judgment where the faithful are marked and spared, while the unrepentant face consequences. This vision, occurring during the Babylonian exile, underscores God’s justice and the importance of remaining faithful amidst turmoil. The Gospel from Matthew shifts focus to community dynamics, offering a structured approach to conflict resolution and emphasizing the power of united prayer.
Both readings, though distinct, intertwine themes of judgment and mercy. Ezekiel’s vision highlights God’s justice and the sparing of the faithful, while Matthew’s teaching provides a communal process for addressing sin, encouraging reconciliation. Together, they remind us that while God is just, His mercy is ever-present, inviting us to repentance and unity.
In our daily lives, these teachings call us to balance justice with mercy, both individually and communally. We are urged to hold each other accountable with love, as Matthew suggests, and to recognize the consequences of our actions, as Ezekiel illustrates. The readings also remind us of the power of prayer and unity in achieving God’s will. Let us strive to live with integrity, seeking justice tempered by mercy, and fostering a community where God’s presence is palpable through our united efforts.