Daily Readings - Sat Jul 31 2021
Leviticus
1And the Lord spoke to Moses on mount Sinai, saying8You shall also number for yourselves seven weeks of years, that is, seven times seven, which together makes forty-nine years9And you shall sound the trumpet in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, at the time of the atonement, throughout all your land10And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year, and you shall proclaim a remission for all the inhabitants of your land: for the same is the Jubilee. A man shall return to his possession, and each one shall go back to his original family11for it is the Jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not sow, and you shall not reap what grows in the field of its own accord, and you shall not gather the first-fruits of the crop12due to the sanctification of the Jubilee. But you shall eat them as they present themselves13In the year of the Jubilee, all shall return to their possessions14When you will sell anything to your fellow citizen, or buy anything from him, do not cause your brother grief, but buy from him according to the number of years from the Jubilee15and he shall sell to you according to the computation of the produce16The more years that will remain after the Jubilee, the more the price shall increase, and the less the time is numbered, so much less shall the purchase price be. For he will sell to you the time for the produce17Do not be willing to afflict your countrymen, but let each one fear his God. For I am the Lord your God
Matthew
1In that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the news about Jesus2And he said to his servants: "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miracles are at work in him.3For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother4For John was telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her.5And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet6Then, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in their midst, and it pleased Herod7And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of him8But, having been advised by her mother, she said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.9And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given10And he sent and beheaded John in prison11And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother12And his disciples approached and took the body, and they buried it. And arriving, they reported it to Jesus
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on justice, integrity, and the consequences of our choices. The first reading from Leviticus presents the Jubilee year, a time of renewal and restoration. Every 50 years, debts were forgiven, land was returned to its original owners, and society was reset to ensure equality and fairness. This practice was rooted in the belief that all things belong to God, and it served as a reminder of God’s justice and mercy. The Jubilee was not just an economic or social policy but a spiritual imperative, calling the people to trust in God’s providence and to live in harmony with one another.
The Gospel reading from Matthew contrasts this vision of justice with a story of grave injustice. Herod, influenced by his own desires and the manipulations of Herodias, has John the Baptist beheaded. John had spoken truth to power, calling Herod to account for his sinful actions, and this cost him his life. This passage reminds us that living according to God’s will can sometimes lead to suffering, but it also highlights the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. John’s martyrdom is a testament to the enduring power of truth and the ultimate triumph of God’s justice over human corruption.
These readings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our daily lives. The Jubilee year calls us to consider how we treat others, especially those in need, and to strive for fairness and compassion in all our interactions. John the Baptist’s courage in the face of death reminds us to stand firm in our commitment to justice and to trust in God’s plan, even when the consequences are difficult. May we, like John, have the strength to speak truth and, like the Jubilee, create spaces of renewal and reconciliation in our world.