Daily Readings - Mon Aug 12 2024

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 presence of God in our lives, even in the midst of uncertainty and challenge. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we encounter a dramatic vision of God’s glory—a whirlwind, a great cloud, and four living creatures. Ezekiel, a priest in exile, is called by God to speak to His people in a time of great turmoil. The vision is a reminder of God’s transcendence and His ability to reveal Himself in ways that surpass human understanding. Ezekiel’s experience is not just a call to prophecy but also a call to trust in God’s plan, even when the future seems unclear. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about His impending suffering and death, and then He demonstrates His divine authority in a humble and unexpected way. When asked about paying the temple tax, Jesus provides the money miraculously through a fish. This story teaches us about trust in God’s providence and the importance of humility. Jesus, though divine, submits to human obligations to avoid giving offense, showing us how to live in harmony with others while remaining faithful to God’s will. These readings remind us that God is always present, even in difficult times. Ezekiel’s vision assures us of God’s glory and power, while the Gospel calls us to trust in God’s providence and to live with humility. In our daily lives, we are invited to embrace faith in the face of uncertainty and to serve others with generosity and kindness. May we, like Ezekiel and the disciples, trust in God’s plan and live with the humility and courage that faith requires.