Daily Readings - Tue Aug 18 2020
Ezekiel
1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying2"Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre: Thus says the Lord God: Because your heart has been exalted, and you have said, ‘I am God, and I sit in the chair of God, in the heart of the sea,’ though you are a man, and not God, and because you have presented your heart as if it were the heart of God3Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is concealed from you4By your wisdom and prudence, you have made yourself strong, and you have acquired gold and silver for your storehouses5By the multitude of your wisdom, and by your business dealings, you have multiplied strength for yourself. And your heart has been exalted by your strength6Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Because your heart has been exalted as if it were the heart of God7for this reason, behold, I will lead over you foreigners, the most robust among the Gentiles. And they will bare their swords over the beauty of your wisdom, and they will defile your beauty8They will destroy you and pull you down. And you will die the death of those slain in the heart of the sea9So then, will you speak, in the presence of those who are destroying you, before the hand of those who are killing you, saying, ‘I am God,’ though you are a man, and not God10You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hand of foreigners. For I have spoken, says the Lord God.
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the dangers of pride and the importance of humility. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear a prophetic condemnation of the king of Tyre, who has allowed his wealth and power to lead him into arrogance. Ezekiel warns that the king’s pride has blinded him to his true nature as a human being, and his refusal to acknowledge God’s sovereignty will lead to his downfall. This passage serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and the necessity of remaining humble in the face of God’s greatness.
In the Gospel, Jesus continues this theme when he speaks to his disciples about the challenges of wealth. He famously says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to enter the kingdom of heaven. This teaching shocks the disciples, who struggle to understand how anyone can be saved if wealth is such an obstacle. Jesus reassures them that while this may seem impossible from a human perspective, with God, all things are possible. Peter then asks about the reward for those who have left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus responds by promising eternal life and a share in the glory of the kingdom to those who have sacrificed for his name. He also reminds them that many who seem first in this world will be last in the next.
These readings remind us that true greatness in God’s eyes is not measured by wealth, status, or power, but by humility and trust in God. The king of Tyre fell because he forgot that his strength and wisdom were gifts from God, not qualities he could claim as his own. Similarly, Jesus warns that attachment to material possessions can blind us to what truly matters. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we allowing pride or materialism to take the place of God? Let us strive to cultivate humility, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. Let us also remember that true fulfillment and joy come not from what we possess, but from living in accordance with God’s will and trusting in his providence.