Daily Readings - Fri Oct 02 2020
Exodus
20Behold, I will send my Angel, who will go before you, and preserve you on your journey, and lead you into the place that I have prepared21Heed him, and hear his voice, and do not hold him in disregard. For he will not release you when you have sinned, and my name is in him22But if you listen to his voice and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will afflict those who afflict you23And my Angel will go before you, and he will bring you to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, whom I will crush
Matthew
1In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst3And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven5And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me10See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful themes: the guidance of God and the call to humility. The first reading from Exodus describes God’s promise to send an Angel to lead the Israelites on their journey, protecting them and guiding them to the Promised Land. This Angel is not just a passive guide but an active presence who demands to be heeded. Disregarding the Angel’s voice is not just a mistake—it carries serious consequences. This passage reminds us that God’s presence is both gracious and demanding, requiring us to listen and obey.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the humility required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus uses the image of a little child to teach the disciples about the kind of heart needed to follow Him. Children, in their simplicity and dependence, model the humility and trust that God desires from us. Jesus also warns against despising the “little ones,” emphasizing that even the smallest among us are precious in God’s eyes. Each of us has an Angel who watches over us and intercedes for us, a reminder of our dignity and the care of our heavenly Father.
These readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with others. Like the Israelites, we are called to trust in God’s guidance, even when the path is uncertain. Like the little children, we are called to approach life with humility, recognizing our dependence on God and our need for His grace. Let us ask ourselves: Do we listen to the voice of God in our lives? Do we treat others with the dignity and respect they deserve as children of God? May we learn to trust in God’s plan and to live with the humility and simplicity of heart that Jesus teaches.