Daily Readings - Sat Aug 02 2025
Leviticus
1And the Lord spoke to Moses on mount Sinai, saying8You shall also number for yourselves seven weeks of years, that is, seven times seven, which together makes forty-nine years9And you shall sound the trumpet in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, at the time of the atonement, throughout all your land10And you shall sanctify the fiftieth year, and you shall proclaim a remission for all the inhabitants of your land: for the same is the Jubilee. A man shall return to his possession, and each one shall go back to his original family11for it is the Jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not sow, and you shall not reap what grows in the field of its own accord, and you shall not gather the first-fruits of the crop12due to the sanctification of the Jubilee. But you shall eat them as they present themselves13In the year of the Jubilee, all shall return to their possessions14When you will sell anything to your fellow citizen, or buy anything from him, do not cause your brother grief, but buy from him according to the number of years from the Jubilee15and he shall sell to you according to the computation of the produce16The more years that will remain after the Jubilee, the more the price shall increase, and the less the time is numbered, so much less shall the purchase price be. For he will sell to you the time for the produce17Do not be willing to afflict your countrymen, but let each one fear his God. For I am the Lord your God
Matthew
1In that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the news about Jesus2And he said to his servants: "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why miracles are at work in him.3For Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother4For John was telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her.5And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet6Then, on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in their midst, and it pleased Herod7And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask of him8But, having been advised by her mother, she said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.9And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given10And he sent and beheaded John in prison11And his head was brought on a platter, and it was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother12And his disciples approached and took the body, and they buried it. And arriving, they reported it to Jesus
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected themes: the call to justice and the consequences of sin. The first reading from Leviticus presents the Jubilee year, a time of restoration and equality, where debts are forgiven, and land is returned to its rightful owners. This practice, rooted in God’s command, emphasizes compassion and fairness, reminding the Israelites of their covenant with God and their responsibility to uphold justice in society.
In contrast, the Gospel reading from Matthew reveals a stark failure of justice. Herod, driven by fear and pride, has John the Baptist executed to save face and satisfy his own desires. This tragic event highlights the consequences of allowing sin and self-interest to guide our actions, rather than living according to God’s will. John’s martyrdom serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of speaking truth to power and the enduring struggle between good and evil.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we live out justice and integrity in our own lives. The Jubilee year challenges us to consider how we treat others, especially those in need, and to strive for fairness in all our dealings. Meanwhile, the story of John the Baptist calls us to stand firm in our faith and to be willing to confront injustice, even in the face of adversity. May we embrace the mercy and justice of God, allowing them to guide our actions and decisions each day.