Daily Readings - Mon Feb 27 2023
Leviticus
1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying2Speak to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy11You shall not steal. You shall not lie. Neither shall anyone deceive his neighbor12You shall not commit perjury in my name, nor shall you pollute the name of your God. I am the Lord13You shall not slander your neighbor, nor shall you oppress him by violence. The wages of a hired hand, you shall not delay with you until tomorrow14You shall not speak evil of the deaf, nor shall you place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear the Lord your God, for I am the Lord15You shall not do what is unjust, nor shall you judge unjustly. You shall not consider the reputation of the poor, nor shall you honor the countenance of the powerful. Judge your neighbor justly16You shall not be a detractor, nor a whisperer, among the people. You shall not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am the Lord17You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but reprove him openly, lest you have sin over him18Do not seek revenge, neither should you be mindful of the injury of your fellow citizens. You shall love your friend as yourself. I am the Lord
Matthew
31But when the Son of man will have arrived in his majesty, and all the Angels with him, then he will sit upon the seat of his majesty32And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats33And he shall station the sheep, indeed, on his right, but the goats on his left34Then the King shall say to those who will be on his right: ‘Come, you blessed of my Father. Possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world35For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in36naked, and you covered me; sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.37Then the just will answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when have we see you hungry, and fed you; thirsty, and given you drink38And when have we seen you a stranger, and taken you in? Or naked, and covered you39Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit to you?40And in response, the King shall say to them, ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.41Then he shall also say, to those who will be on his left: ‘Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels42For I was hungry, and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give me to drink43I was a stranger and you did not take me in; naked, and you did not cover me; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.44Then they will also answer him, saying: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?45Then he shall respond to them by saying: ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did not do it to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.46And these shall go into eternal punishment, but the just shall go into eternal life.
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between holiness and compassion. In the first reading from Leviticus, God calls the Israelites to live as His holy people by avoiding sin and injustice. He commands them not to steal, lie, or oppress others, emphasizing the importance of treating neighbors with justice and respect. This passage is part of the Holiness Code, a set of laws that guide the Israelites in living as a people set apart for God. The heart of these laws is not just ritual purity but a way of life that reflects God’s character—holy, just, and merciful.
In the Gospel, Jesus paints a vivid picture of the Final Judgment, where nations are separated like sheep and goats. The criterion for judgment is not religious observance or knowledge but how people treated the most vulnerable: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Those who served the least among them served Jesus Himself, while those who ignored them rejected Jesus. This passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He emphasizes that true faith is demonstrated in actions of love and compassion. The surprising twist is that many will be unaware that their care for the marginalized was care for Christ.
These readings together call us to reflect on how we live out our faith. Holiness is not just about avoiding sin; it is about actively loving and serving others, especially those in need. In our daily lives, we are invited to see Christ in the faces of those around us—perhaps in a neighbor who feels lonely, a coworker who is struggling, or someone in our community who is overlooked. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is measured by our love and compassion. Let us ask ourselves today: How can I serve Christ in the people I encounter? How can I live in a way that reflects God’s holiness and mercy? May we strive to be holy by loving and serving others, for in doing so, we love and serve the Lord Himself.