Daily Readings - Mon Aug 08 2022

²On the fifth of the month, the same is the fifth year of the transmigration of king Joachin³the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, a priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, next to the river Chebar. And the hand of the Lord was over him there⁴And I saw, and behold, a whirlwind arrived from the north. And a great cloud, wrapped in fire and brightness, was all around it. And from its midst, that is, from the midst of the fire, there was something with the appearance of amber⁵And in its midst, there was the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: the likeness of a man was in them²⁴And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the sublime God. When they walked, it was like the sound of a multitude, like the sound of an army. And when they stood still, their wings were let down²⁵For when a voice came from above the firmament, which was over their heads, they stood still, and they put down their wings²⁶And above the firmament, which was suspended over their heads, there was the likeness of a throne, with the appearance of the sapphire stone. And over the likeness of the throne, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man above it²⁷And I saw something with the appearance of amber, with the likeness of fire within it and all around it. And from his waist and upward, and from his waist downward, I saw something with the appearance of fire shining all around²⁸There was the appearance of the rainbow, as when it is in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the splendor on every side

Matthew

Chapter 17

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s presence and the call to live in faith and obedience. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we encounter a dramatic vision of God’s glory—a whirlwind, a great cloud, and four living creatures surrounding a throne. This vision is not just a display of divine power but a call to Ezekiel to be a prophet, to speak God’s word to a people in exile. Ezekiel’s experience reminds us that God’s presence is both transcendent and immanent, a mystery that surpasses human understanding but also draws us into a relationship of trust and surrender. In the Gospel, we find Jesus teaching His disciples about His impending death and resurrection. This is the second time Jesus foretells His Passion, and it leaves the disciples deeply saddened. Yet, in the same passage, we see Jesus demonstrating His divine authority in a humble and unexpected way. When asked about the temple tax, Jesus provides the money through a miraculous sign—a shekel found in the mouth of a fish. This act of obedience and provision shows that even in the face of suffering and death, God’s love and care for His people endure. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not about avoiding difficulty but about trusting in God’s plan, even when it seems unclear. Ezekiel’s vision calls us to reverence and awe, while Jesus’ words and actions invite us to embrace humility and obedience. In our daily lives, we are called to live with faith, trusting that God’s presence is with us, even in the midst of challenges. May we, like Ezekiel and the disciples, surrender to God’s will and find strength in His love and providence.