Daily Readings - Thu Aug 20 2020
Ezekiel
23And I will sanctify my great name, which was defiled among the Gentiles, which you have defiled in their midst. So may the Gentiles know that I am the Lord, says the Lord of hosts, when I will have been sanctified in you, before their eyes24Certainly, I will take you away from the Gentiles, and I will gather you together from all the lands, and I will lead you into your own land25And I will pour clean water over you, and you shall be cleansed from all your filth, and I will cleanse you from all your idols26And I will give to you a new heart, and I will place in you a new spirit. And I will take away the heart of stone from your body, and I will give to you a heart of flesh27And I will place my Spirit in your midst. And I will act so that you may walk in my precepts and keep my judgments, and so that you may fulfill them28And you shall live in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God
Matthew
1And responding, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying2"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was king, who celebrated a wedding for his son3And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding. But they were not willing to come4Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell the invited: Behold, I have prepared my meal. My bulls and fatlings have been killed, and all is ready. Come to the wedding.5But they ignored this and they went away: one to his country estate, and another to his business6Yet truly, the rest took hold of his servants and, having treated them with contempt, killed them7But when the king heard this, he was angry. And sending out his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and he burned their city8Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding, indeed, has been prepared. But those who were invited were not worthy9Therefore, go out to the ways, and call whomever you will find to the wedding.10And his servants, departing into the ways, gathered all those whom they found, bad and good, and the wedding was filled with guests11Then the king entered to see the guests. And he saw a man there who was not clothed in a wedding garment12And he said to him, ‘Friend, how is it that you have entered here without having a wedding garment?’ But he was dumbstruck13Then the king said to the ministers: ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth14For many are called, but few are chosen.’
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages from Ezekiel and Matthew, each offering insights into God's grace and our response to it.
Ezekiel 36:23-28 speaks of God's promise to sanctify His name and restore His people. This passage, addressed to exiles, brings hope of renewal. God pledges to cleanse them, give them a new heart and spirit, and enable them to live according to His precepts. This is a message of divine initiative, where God takes the lead in transforming His people, making them holy and a source of His sanctified name among the nations.
Matthew 22:1-14 presents the parable of the wedding feast, where a king's invitation is repeatedly spurned, leading to the destruction of the unresponsive and the inclusion of the unexpected. This parable, directed at Jewish leaders, critiques their refusal of Jesus' invitation and highlights God's offer to all. The story emphasizes the importance of not just receiving the invitation but also being prepared, as the improperly dressed guest is cast out.
Connecting these readings, Ezekiel illustrates God's grace in cleansing and renewing, while Matthew underscores the need for an appropriate response. Ezekiel's new heart and spirit parallel the wedding garment in Matthew—both symbolize the transformation and readiness required to participate in God's kingdom.
In daily life, this means accepting God's invitation with humility and readiness. We must not be complacent but rather live in a way that reflects our commitment to God. This involves repentance, faith, and living guided by the Holy Spirit.
The moral lesson is clear: God's grace demands a response. We must clothe ourselves in the righteousness offered by Christ, ensuring we are prepared to enter the kingdom. Let us embrace God's invitation with gratitude and live in a manner that honors His grace.