Daily Readings - Mon Aug 16 2021
Judges
11And the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served the Baals12And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had led them away from the land of Egypt. And they followed foreign gods and the gods of the peoples who were living around them, and they adored them. And they provoked the Lord to wrath13forsaking him, and serving Baal and Ashtaroth14And the Lord, having become angry against Israel, delivered them into the hands of plunderers, who seized them and sold them to the enemies that were living on all sides. Neither were they able to withstand their adversaries15Instead, wherever they wanted to go, the hand of the Lord was upon them, just as he said and just as he swore to them. And they were greatly afflicted16And the Lord raised up judges, who would free them from the hands of their oppressors. But they were not willing to listen to them17Fornicating with foreign gods and adoring them, they quickly deserted the way along which their fathers had advanced. And having heard the commandments of the Lord, they did all things to the contrary18And while the Lord was raising up the judges, in their days, he was moved to mercy, and he listened to the groaning of the afflicted, and he freed them from the slaughter of their oppressors19But after a judge had died, they turned back, and they were doing much worse things than their fathers had done, following strange gods, serving them, and adoring them. They did not abandon their pursuits and their very stubborn way, by which they were accustomed to walk
Matthew
16And behold, someone approached and said to him, "Good Teacher, what good should I do, so that I may have eternal life?17And he said to him: "Why do you question me about what is good? One is good: God. But if you wish to enter into life, observe the commandments.18He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said: "You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony19Honor your father and your mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.20The young man said to him: "All these I have kept from my childhood. What is still lacking for me?21Jesus said to him: "If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.22And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad, for he had many possessions
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the world around us. The first reading from Judges describes the Israelites' recurring cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance. Despite God's mercy and the leadership of judges, they repeatedly turn away from Him, embracing idols and suffering the consequences. This narrative highlights the human tendency to forget God's faithfulness and succumb to worldly allurements.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a young man who approaches Jesus, eager to know what he must do to attain eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, and the young man claims to have kept them since childhood. Yet, when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and follow Him, he hesitates, burdened by his wealth. This encounter underscores the challenge of detachment from material possessions and the deeper call to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
Both readings relate through the theme of attachment to worldly things. The Israelites in Judges are lured by foreign gods, while the young man in Matthew is held back by his wealth. These stories remind us that our fidelity to God is tested by our willingness to let go of what distracts us from Him. In our daily lives, we may find ourselves attached to various desires or possessions that hinder our full surrender to God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider what holds us back from following Christ more closely. True discipleship requires more than outward obedience; it demands a willingness to release whatever stands in the way of our relationship with God. The moral lesson here is clear: detachment and surrender are essential for a life of deeper faith and commitment. May we, like the judges of old, turn to God with humble hearts, ready to let go and follow Him faithfully.