Daily Readings - Thu Aug 22 2024
Ezekiel
23And I will sanctify my great name, which was defiled among the Gentiles, which you have defiled in their midst. So may the Gentiles know that I am the Lord, says the Lord of hosts, when I will have been sanctified in you, before their eyes24Certainly, I will take you away from the Gentiles, and I will gather you together from all the lands, and I will lead you into your own land25And I will pour clean water over you, and you shall be cleansed from all your filth, and I will cleanse you from all your idols26And I will give to you a new heart, and I will place in you a new spirit. And I will take away the heart of stone from your body, and I will give to you a heart of flesh27And I will place my Spirit in your midst. And I will act so that you may walk in my precepts and keep my judgments, and so that you may fulfill them28And you shall live in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be my people, and I will be your God
Matthew
1And responding, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying2"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was king, who celebrated a wedding for his son3And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding. But they were not willing to come4Again, he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell the invited: Behold, I have prepared my meal. My bulls and fatlings have been killed, and all is ready. Come to the wedding.5But they ignored this and they went away: one to his country estate, and another to his business6Yet truly, the rest took hold of his servants and, having treated them with contempt, killed them7But when the king heard this, he was angry. And sending out his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and he burned their city8Then he said to his servants: ‘The wedding, indeed, has been prepared. But those who were invited were not worthy9Therefore, go out to the ways, and call whomever you will find to the wedding.10And his servants, departing into the ways, gathered all those whom they found, bad and good, and the wedding was filled with guests11Then the king entered to see the guests. And he saw a man there who was not clothed in a wedding garment12And he said to him, ‘Friend, how is it that you have entered here without having a wedding garment?’ But he was dumbstruck13Then the king said to the ministers: ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth14For many are called, but few are chosen.’
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages from Ezekiel and Matthew, each offering insights into God's invitation and our response. Ezekiel 36:23-28 presents a vision of hope and renewal for the Israelites in exile. God promises to sanctify His name, cleanse them from impurity, and give them a new heart and spirit. This transformation is not just individual but communal, restoring their relationship with God and each other. The context is one of exile and despair, yet Ezekiel's prophecy brings hope, assuring them of a future where God's Spirit will dwell within them, enabling them to live according to His precepts.
In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus uses the parable of the wedding feast to illustrate God's invitation to His kingdom. The king's generosity is met with indifference and hostility, leading to the destruction of those who refuse the invitation. The king then invites all, regardless of their worthiness, yet emphasizes the need for proper attire, symbolizing readiness to live according to kingdom values. This parable, spoken during Jesus' ministry, challenges listeners to consider their response to God's call and the importance of living in accordance with that call.
Together, these readings highlight the interplay between God's invitation and our response. Ezekiel focuses on the internal transformation God provides, while Matthew emphasizes the external preparation required. Both stress the necessity of accepting God's grace and living in a manner that reflects that grace. In our daily lives, this means being open to transformation and mindful of how our actions reflect our commitment to God. The moral lesson is clear: we are called to embrace God's invitation fully, allowing His Spirit to transform us and guide our actions, ensuring we are prepared to live as His people.