Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 20, 2021
First Reading: Ruth 1.1-2ab, 3-6, 14b-16, 22
1In the days of one of the judges, when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a man from Bethlehem in Judah departed to sojourn in the region of the Moabites with his wife and two children2He called himself Elimelech, and his wife Naomi, and his two sons, the one Mahlon, and the other Chilion, Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. And entering into the region of the Moabites, they stayed there3And Elimelech the husband of Naomi died; and she remained with her sons4They took wives from among the Moabites, of whom one was called Orpah, and the other Ruth. And they lived there ten years5And they both died, namely Mahlon and Chilion, and the woman was left alone, bereaved of her two children and her husband6And she arose so that she might journey to her native land, with both her daughters-in-law, from the region of the Moabites. For she had heard that the Lord had provided for his people and had given them food14In response, they lifted up their voice and began to weep again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, and then turned back. Ruth clung to her mother-in-law15Naomi said to her, "See, your kinswoman returns to her people, and to her gods. Hurry after her.16She answered, "Do not be against me, as if I would abandon you and go away; for wherever you will go, I will go, and where you will stay, I also will stay with you. Your people are my people, and your God is my God22Therefore, Naomi went with Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, from the land of her sojourn, and returned to Bethlehem, at the time of the first reaping of the barley
Psalm 146
1Alleluia. Of Haggai and Zachariah2Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord with my life. I will sing psalms to my God as long as I shall be. Do not trust in the leaders3in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation4His spirit will depart, and he will return to his earth. In that day, all their thoughts will perish5Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob: his hope is in the Lord God himself6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all the things that are in them7He preserves the truth forever. He executes judgment for those who suffer injury. He provides food for the hungry. The Lord releases those who are bound8The Lord enlightens the blind. The Lord sets upright those who have been thrown down. The Lord loves the just9The Lord watches over new arrivals. He will support the orphan and the widow. And he will destroy the ways of sinners10The Lord shall reign forever: your God, O Zion, from generation to generation
Gospel: Matthew 22.34-40
34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one35And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said to him: " ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the greatest and first commandment39But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful narratives that illuminate the essence of love and loyalty, both towards God and our neighbors. The first reading from the Book of Ruth presents us with a poignant story of Naomi and her daughters-in-law, set against the backdrop of loss and hardship. Naomi, having lost her husband and sons, is met with a profound act of devotion from her daughter-in-law Ruth, who chooses to remain by her side despite the challenges ahead. This narrative underscores the transformative power of love and fidelity, even in the face of adversity.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the heart of Jesus’ teaching. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds by emphasizing the dual nature of love: loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This teaching is not merely a moral guideline but a profound revelation of God’s nature. Jesus makes it clear that these two commandments are the foundation of the entire law, highlighting that our relationship with God is inextricably linked to our relationship with others.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we embody love in our daily lives. Just as Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi was a testament to her faith, our commitment to loving God and neighbor must be more than a feeling—it must be a way of life. In a world often marked by division and self-interest, we are called to mirror God’s love through acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness. Let us strive to live out this dual commandment, allowing our love for God to overflow into our interactions with those around us, transforming our communities and our world.