Daily Readings - Sat Aug 19 2023
Joshua
14Now therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and very sincere heart. And take away the gods that your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord15But if it seems evil to you that you would serve the Lord, a choice is given to you. Choose today what pleases you, and whom you ought to serve above all else, either the gods that your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.16And the people responded, and they said: "Far be it from us that we would forsake the Lord, and serve foreign gods17The Lord our God himself led us and our fathers away from the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude. And he accomplished immense signs in our sight, and he preserved us along the entire way by which we journeyed, and among all the people through whom we passed18And he cast out all the nations, the Amorite, the inhabitant of the land that we entered. And so, we will serve the Lord, for he is our God.19And Joshua said to the people: "You will not be able to serve the Lord. For he is a holy and powerful God, and he is jealous, and he will not ignore your wickedness and sins20If you leave behind the Lord, and you serve foreign gods, he will turn himself, and he will afflict you, and he will overthrow you, after all the good that he has offered to you.21And the people said to Joshua, "By no means will it be as you are saying, but we will serve the Lord.22And Joshua said to the people, "You yourselves are witnesses, that you have chosen the Lord so that you may serve him." And they answered, "We are witnesses.23"Now therefore," he said, "take away strange gods from among yourselves, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.24And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God, and we will be obedient to his precepts.25Therefore, on that day, Joshua struck a covenant, and he set before the people at Shechem the precepts and the judgments26He also wrote all these things in the volume of the law of the Lord. And he took a very great stone, and he stationed it under the oak that was in the Sanctuary of the Lord27And he said to all the people, "Lo, this stone shall be to you as a testimony, which has heard all the words of the Lord that he has spoken to you, lest perhaps, afterward, you might choose to deny it, and to lie to the Lord your God.28And he dismissed the people, each one to their own possession29And after these things, Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old
Matthew
13Then they brought to him little children, so that he would place his hands upon them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them14Yet truly, Jesus said to them: "Allow the little children to come to me, and do not choose to prohibit them. For the kingdom of heaven is among such as these.15And when he had imposed his hands upon them, he went away from there
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of commitment, faith, and humility. In the first reading from Joshua, we hear the people of Israel making a solemn promise to serve the Lord and reject the idols of their ancestors. Joshua challenges them to choose faithfully, warning them that serving the Lord is no trivial matter, for He is a jealous and holy God who demands sincerity. The people, recalling the wonders God has done for them, affirm their commitment to follow Him alone. This passage reminds us that faith is not a passive state but an active choice—one that requires us to let go of lesser loyalties and incline our hearts fully to God.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the humility and openness required to follow Him. When the disciples try to prevent children from approaching Jesus, He rebukes them, saying, "Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Jesus is not just expressing affection for children; He is using them as a model of the trust, simplicity, and dependence that should characterize our relationship with God. Just as children rely on their parents without question, we too must approach God with a childlike humility, recognizing our need for Him and surrendering our pride and self-reliance.
These readings are deeply connected. Joshua’s call to choose the Lord wholeheartedly and Jesus’ emphasis on childlike humility both point to the same truth: our relationship with God is not about half-hearted commitments or self-sufficiency. It is about surrendering our lives to Him in trust and simplicity. In our daily lives, this means letting go of distractions and idols—whether they be material comforts, pride, or fear—and instead choosing to follow God with sincerity. It also means cultivating humility, recognizing that we are dependent on God’s grace and mercy. As we navigate the challenges of life, may we remember that true greatness in God’s eyes is found in a childlike heart, open to His love and guidance. Let us pray for the courage to make a wholehearted choice for God and to live with the humility and trust of children.