Daily Readings - Sun Sep 06 2020

⁷And as for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore, having heard the word from my mouth, you shall announce it to them from me⁸When I say to the impious, ‘O impious man, you will die a death,’ if you have not spoken so that the impious man will keep himself from his way, then that impious man will die in his iniquity. But I will attribute his blood to your hand⁹But if you have announced to the impious man, so that he may be converted from his ways, and he has not converted from his way, then he will die in his iniquity. Yet you will have freed your own soul

Romans

Chapter 13

⁸You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law⁹For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself¹⁰The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law

Matthew

Chapter 18

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 explore themes of responsibility, love, and community. Ezekiel is called as a watchman, tasked with warning the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of speaking up to save others from sin. The consequences of not fulfilling this duty are severe, highlighting the weight of responsibility. In Romans, Paul explains that love is the essence of the law, encompassing all commandments and doing no harm. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment to the well-being of others. The Gospel from Matthew outlines a process for correcting a brother who has sinned, emphasizing patience, community involvement, and the power of collective prayer, with Jesus present in gatherings of two or three. These readings connect through the thread of love as action. Ezekiel's role as a watchman is an act of love, urging others to turn from sin. Paul's message in Romans underscores that love is the fulfillment of the law, guiding our interactions with others. Matthew's instruction on correction is rooted in loving concern for a brother's spiritual well-being, using community and prayer to restore relationships. In daily life, these teachings call us to be mindful of our influence on others, to act with love, and to engage with our community in supportive ways. We are reminded that love is not passive but active, involving correction and care. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is lived through responsible action and loving service to others, reflecting God's presence in our midst.