Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 23, 2024
First Reading: Ezekiel 37.1-14
1The hand of the Lord was set upon me, and he led me away in the Spirit of the Lord, and he released me in the midst of a plain which was full of bones2And he led me around, through them, on every side. Now they were very many upon the face of the plain, and they were exceedingly dry3And he said to me, "Son of man, do you think that these bones will live?" And I said, "O Lord God, you know.4And he said to me, "Prophesy about these bones. And you shall say to them: Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will send spirit into you, and you shall live6And I will set sinews upon you, and I will cause flesh to grow over you, and I will extend skin over you. And I will give you spirit, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the Lord.7And I prophesied, just as he had instructed me. But a noise occurred, as I was prophesying, and behold: a commotion. And the bones joined together, each one at its joint8And I saw, and behold: sinews and flesh rose up over them; and skin was extended over them. But they had no spirit within them9And he said to me: "Prophesy to the spirit! Prophesy, O son of man, and you shall say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord God: Approach, O spirit, from the four winds, and blow across these ones who were slain, and revive them.10And I prophesied, just as he had instructed me. And spirit entered into them, and they lived. And they stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army11And he said to me: "Son of man: All these bones are the house of Israel. They say: ‘Our bones are dried out, and our hope has perished, and we have been cut off.12Because of this, prophesy, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your tombs, and I will lead you away from your sepulchers, O my people. And I will lead you into the land of Israel13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have opened your sepulchers, and when I will have led you away from your tombs, O my people14And I will place my Spirit within you, and you shall live. And I will cause you to rest upon your own soil. And you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and acted, says the Lord God.
Psalm 107
1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is with every generation2Let those who have been redeemed by the Lord say so: those whom he redeemed from the hand of the enemy and gathered from the regions3from the rising of the sun and its setting, from the north and from the sea4They wandered into solitude in a waterless place. They did not find the way of the city to be their dwelling place5They were hungry, and they were thirsty. Their soul fainted within them6And they cried out to the Lord in tribulation, and he rescued them in their necessity7And he led them in the right way, so that they might go forth to a city of habitation8Let his mercies confess to the Lord, and let his miracles confess to the sons of men9For he has satisfied the empty soul, and he has satisfied the hungry soul with good things10those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, shackled by extreme poverty and by iron11For they exasperated the eloquence of God, and they irritated the deliberation of the Most High12And their heart was brought low with hardships. They were weakened, and there was no one to help them13And they cried out to the Lord in their tribulation, and he freed them from their distress14And he led them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and he broke apart their chains15Let his mercies confess to the Lord, and let his miracles confess to the sons of men16For he has crushed the gates of brass and broken the iron bars17He has taken them up, from the way of their iniquity. For they were brought low, because of their injustices18Their soul abhorred all food, and they drew near even to the gates of death19And they cried out to the Lord in their tribulation, and he delivered them in their necessity20He sent his word, and he healed them, and he rescued them from their utter destruction21Let his mercies confess to the Lord, and let his miracles confess to the sons of men22And let them offer sacrifice with the sacrifice of praise, and let them announce his works in exultation23Those who descend to the sea in ships, making their livelihood in the great waters24these have seen the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep25He spoke: and a windstorm stood up, and its waves were exalted26They ascend even to the heavens, and they descend even to the abyss. Their soul will waste away in distress27They were troubled, and they moved like a drunkard, and all their wisdom was consumed28And they cried out to the Lord in their tribulation, and he led them out of their distress29And he replaced the storm with a breeze, and its waves were stilled30And they were joyful that it was stilled, and he led them into the haven that they desired31Let his mercies confess to the Lord, and let his miracles confess to the sons of men32And let them exalt him in the Church of the people, and praise him in the chair of the elders33He has placed rivers in the desert and sources of water in dry places34a fruit-bearing land in the midst of brine, before the malice of those who dwell in it35He has placed a desert in the midst of pools of waters, and a land without water in the midst of sources of water36And he has gathered the hungry together there, and they constructed a city of habitation37And they sowed fields and planted vineyards, and they produced the fruit of nativity38And he blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly. And he did not diminish their beasts of burden39And they became few, and they were afflicted by the tribulation of evils and of sorrow40Contempt was poured over their leaders, and he caused them to wander in an impassable place, and not on the way41And he helped the poor out of destitution, and he stationed families like sheep42The upright will see, and they will rejoice. And every iniquity will block its mouth43Who is wise and will keep these things? And who will understand the mercies of the Lord
Gospel: Matthew 22.34-40
34But the Pharisees, hearing that he had caused the Sadducees to be silent, came together as one35And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?37Jesus said to him: " ‘You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the greatest and first commandment39But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful visions of hope and love, inviting us to reflect on the transformative power of God’s Spirit and the essence of our faith. The first reading from Ezekiel presents the prophet’s vision of a valley filled with dry bones, a stark image of lifelessness and despair. Ezekiel is called to prophesy to these bones, and through the Spirit of God, they come to life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel. This vision is not just about physical resurrection but about spiritual renewal—God’s promise to breathe life into a people who felt hopeless and cut off from their heritage.
The Gospel reading shifts our focus to the heart of Jesus’ teaching. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy, emphasizing love for God with all our heart, soul, and mind. He then adds a second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, explaining that the entire law and prophets depend on these two teachings. This passage reminds us that our faith is rooted in love—love for God and love for one another. It is this love that gives life and meaning to our actions and relationships.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on how we embody God’s life-giving Spirit in our daily lives. Ezekiel’s vision reminds us that even in times of spiritual dryness, God can revive us. Jesus’ teaching calls us to live out this renewal through love. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow God’s Spirit to animate us? Do we love God and our neighbors with the depth and sincerity that Jesus calls for? May we strive to be instruments of hope and life, bringing God’s love to a world that often feels as barren as a valley of dry bones.