Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 16, 2023
First Reading: Deuteronomy 34.1-12
1Therefore, Moses ascended from the plains of Moab onto Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, opposite Jericho. And the Lord revealed to him the entire land of Gilead, as far as Dan2and all of Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire land of Judah, even to the furthest sea3and the southern region, and the breadth of the plain of Jericho, the city of palms, as far as Zoar4And the Lord said to him: "This is the land, about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your offspring. You have seen it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over to it.5And Moses, the servant of the Lord, died in that place, in the land of Moab, by order of the Lord6And he buried him in the valley of the land of Moab, opposite Peor. And no man knows where his sepulcher is, even to the present day7Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dimmed, nor were his teeth displaced8And the sons of Israel wept for him in the plains of Moab for thirty days. And then the days of their wailing, during which they mourned Moses, were completed9Truly, Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. And the sons of Israel were obedient to him, and they did as the Lord instructed Moses10And no other prophet rose up in Israel like Moses, one whom the Lord knew face to face11one with all the signs and wonders, which he sent through him, to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land12nor one with such a powerful hand and such great miracles as Moses did in the sight of all Israel
Psalm 66
1Unto the end. A Canticle Psalm of the Resurrection. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth2Proclaim a psalm to his name. Give glory to his praise3Exclaim to God, "How terrible are your works, O Lord!" According to the fullness of your virtue, your enemies will speak lies about you4Let all the earth adore you and sing psalms to you. May it sing a psalm to your name5Draw near and see the works of God, who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men6He converts the sea into dry land. They will cross the river on foot. There, we will rejoice in him7He rules by his virtue for eternity. His eyes gaze upon the nations. May those who exasperate him, not be exalted in themselves8Bless our God, you Gentiles, and make the voice of his praise be heard9He has set my soul toward life, and he has granted that my feet may not be shaken10For you, O God, have tested us. You have examined us by fire, just as silver is examined11You have led us into a snare. You have placed tribulations on our back12You have set men over our heads. We have crossed through fire and water. And you have led us out to refreshment13I will enter your house with holocausts. I will repay my vows to you14which my lips discerned and my mouth spoke, in my tribulation15I will offer to you holocausts full of marrow, with the burnt offerings of rams. I will offer to you bulls as well as goats16Draw near and listen, all you who fear God, and I will describe to you how much he has done for my soul17I cried out to him with my mouth, and I extolled him under my breath18If I have seen iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not heed me19And yet, God has heeded me and he has attended to the voice of my supplication20Blessed is God, who has not removed my prayer, nor his mercy, from me
Gospel: Matthew 18.15-20
15But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother16But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses17And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector18Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven19Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven20For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about leadership, transition, and the importance of community. The first reading from Deuteronomy brings us to the end of Moses’ journey. Standing on Mount Nebo, Moses gazes out at the Promised Land, a land he will not enter. Despite his deep connection to God and his people, Moses’ life comes to an end, and he is buried in an unmarked grave. Yet, even in death, Moses’ legacy endures. The text reminds us that Joshua, filled with the spirit of wisdom, takes up the mantle of leadership, guiding the people forward. This passage teaches us that while individual journeys may end, God’s plan continues through others. It invites us to trust in God’s providence and to embrace the transitions in our own lives.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the dynamics of community life. Jesus teaches us how to address conflicts with one another. He emphasizes the importance of approaching disputes with love and humility—first speaking privately, then involving others, and finally bringing the matter to the Church. This process reflects Jesus’ desire for unity and reconciliation among his followers. The passage also highlights the power of prayer in community. When two or three gather in Jesus’ name, he is present among them, and their united prayers are heard in heaven. This reminds us that our relationships with one another are not just human endeavors but are deeply spiritual, and that together, we can accomplish great things when we seek God’s will.
Both readings call us to reflect on our roles within our communities. Like Moses, we may not see the fullness of what God is doing, but we are called to faithfulness in our own time. Like the early followers of Jesus, we are invited to approach conflicts with humility and to trust in the power of prayer. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, let us remember that we are part of a larger story. May we lead with wisdom, seek reconciliation with one another, and pray with confidence, knowing that God is always with us.