Daily Readings - Mon Aug 09 2021
Deuteronomy
12And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only that you fear the Lord your God, and walk in his ways, and love him, and serve the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul13and that you keep the commandments of the Lord, and his ceremonies, which I am instructing to you this day, so that it may be well with you14Lo, heaven belongs to the Lord your God, and the heaven of heaven, and the earth, and all the things that are within these15Now the Lord was closely joined to your fathers, and he loved them, and he chose their offspring after them, that is, you yourselves, out of all the nations, just as is being proven today16Therefore, circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and no longer stiffen your neck17For the Lord your God himself is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, a God great and powerful and terrible, who favors no person and accepts no bribe18He accomplishes judgment for the orphan and the widow. He loves the sojourner, and he gives him food as well as clothing19Therefore, you also should love sojourners, for you also were new arrivals in the land of Egypt20You shall fear the Lord your God, and him alone shall you serve. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name21He is your praise and your God. He has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen22As seventy souls, your fathers descended into Egypt. And now, behold, the Lord your God has multiplied you to be like the stars of heaven.
Matthew
22And when they were conversing together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: "The Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men23And they will kill him, but he will rise again on the third day." And they were extremely saddened24And when they had arrived at Capernaum, those who collected the half shekel approached Peter, and they said to him, "Doesn’t your Teacher pay the half shekel?25He said, "Yes." And when he had entered into the house, Jesus went before him, saying: "How does it seem to you, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they receive tribute or the census tax: from their own sons or from foreigners?26And he said, "From foreigners." Jesus said to him: "Then the sons are free27But so that we may not become an obstacle to them: go to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take the first fish that is brought up, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them, for me and for you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about living a life grounded in faith, trust, and service. The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of God’s fundamental requirements: to fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him with our whole heart and soul. This passage emphasizes that our relationship with God is not about outward rituals alone but about the orientation of our hearts. It also highlights God’s special care for the vulnerable—the orphan, the widow, and the sojourner—calling us to love and compassion toward all, just as God has loved us. The reading concludes with a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the miraculous way He has multiplied His people, urging us to remain faithful and trust in His providence.
The Gospel from Matthew deepens this message of trust and humility. Jesus predicts His own suffering and death, which fills the disciples with sorrow. Yet, in the same passage, Jesus teaches Peter a lesson about freedom and trust in God’s provision. When faced with the question of paying the temple tax, Jesus uses a miraculous sign—the coin in the fish’s mouth—to demonstrate that as children of God, we are free from earthly obligations. However, He also chooses to pay the tax to avoid causing scandal, showing us the importance of living in harmony with others and not stumbling them in our faith. This teaches us to trust in God’s plan while also being mindful of our responsibilities and relationships with others.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like the Israelites, we are called to love and serve God wholeheartedly, caring for those on the margins. Like Peter, we are reminded that our ultimate freedom comes from being children of God, but this freedom is not an excuse to disregard our duties or harm others. Instead, it calls us to live with humility, trust, and generosity. Let us ask ourselves: Are we orienting our hearts toward God? Are we trusting in His providence, even when the path seems uncertain? Are we serving others with love and compassion? May we, like Jesus, embrace both the freedom and the responsibilities of being His disciples, living in a way that reflects His love and light to the world.