Daily Readings - Fri Aug 18 2023
Joshua
1And Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and he called those greater by birth, and the leaders and judges and teachers. And they stood in the sight of the Lord2And he spoke to the people in this way: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Your fathers lived, in the beginning, across the river: Terah, the father of Abraham, and Nahor. And they served strange gods3Then I brought your father Abraham from the parts of Mesopotamia, and I led him into the land of Canaan. And I multiplied his offspring4and I gave to him Isaac. And to him, I gave again Jacob and Esau. And I gave mount Seir to Esau as a possession. Yet truly, Jacob and his sons descended into Egypt5And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with many signs and portents6And I led you and your fathers away from Egypt, and you arrived at the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen, as far as the Red Sea7Then the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. And he stationed a darkness between you and the Egyptians, and he led the sea over them, and he covered them. Your eyes saw all that I did in Egypt, and you lived in the wilderness for a long time8And I led you into the land of the Amorite, who was living beyond the Jordan. And when they fought against you, I delivered them into your hands, and you possessed their land, and you put them to death9Then Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, rose up and fought against Israel. And he sent and called for Balaam, the son of Beor, so that he might curse you10And I was not willing to listen to him, but on the contrary, I blessed you through him, and I freed you from his hand11And you crossed over the Jordan, and you arrived at Jericho. And the men of that city fought against you: the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. And I delivered them into your hands12And I sent wasps before you. And I drove them from their places, the two kings of the Amorites, but not by your sword, and not by your bow13And I gave you a land, in which you did not labor, and cities, which you did not build, so that you might live in them, and vineyards and olive groves, which you did not plant.
Matthew
3And the Pharisees approached him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to separate from his wife, no matter what the cause?4And he said to them in response, "Have you not read that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female?" And he said5"For this reason, a man shall separate from father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife, and these two shall become one flesh6And so, now they are not two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.7They said to him, "Then why did Moses command him to give a bill of divorce, and to separate?8He said to them: "Although Moses permitted you to separate from your wives, due to the hardness of your heart, it was not that way from the beginning9And I say to you, that whoever will have separated from his wife, except because of fornication, and who will have married another, commits adultery, and whoever will have married her who has been separated, commits adultery.10His disciples said to him, "If such is the case for a man with a wife, then it is not expedient to marry.11And he said to them: "Not everyone is able to grasp this word, but only those to whom it has been given12For there are chaste persons who were born so from their mother’s womb, and there are chaste persons who have been made so by men, and there are chaste persons who have made themselves chaste for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever is able to grasp this, let him grasp it.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful reminders of God's covenant and the call to fidelity. Joshua gathers the Israelites at Shechem, recounting their history from Abraham to their present, emphasizing God's faithfulness in leading them to the Promised Land. This historical account serves as a foundation for renewing their covenant with God, urging them to serve Him faithfully. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus discusses the sacredness of marriage, referencing Genesis to highlight that marriage is a union between a man and woman, becoming one flesh. He clarifies that divorce was permitted due to human hardness but wasn't God's original intent, underscoring the permanence of marriage.
Both readings share a common theme of fidelity and covenant. Joshua's recounting of Israel's history and Jesus' teaching on marriage both emphasize commitment and faithfulness. Joshua's call to serve God faithfully mirrors Jesus' call to uphold the sanctity of marriage, reflecting God's original plan. This connection highlights the importance of honoring commitments, whether in our relationship with God or with each other.
Applying this to our daily lives, we are reminded to approach our relationships and commitments with dedication and perseverance. Just as the Israelites were called to remain faithful to God, we too are called to stay true to our promises, trusting in God's plan even when challenges arise. This fidelity not only strengthens our relationships but also deepens our trust in God's providence. Let us strive to live with commitment and faithfulness, reflecting God's enduring love in all aspects of our lives.