Daily Readings - Mon Aug 14 2017
Deuteronomy
12"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,13and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?14Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.15Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.18He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.19Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.20You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.21He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.22Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
Matthew
22As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,23and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.24When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?"25He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?"26And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.27However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful reminders of God’s love, justice, and providence. The first reading from Deuteronomy calls us to live a life of fidelity to God, emphasizing that our relationship with Him is not just about rituals but about loving Him with our whole heart and soul. Moses reminds the Israelites—and us—that God’s ways are just and that He is a God who loves the vulnerable, including the widow, the orphan, and the sojourner. This passage invites us to reflect on how we live out our faith in tangible ways, especially in our treatment of others.
The Gospel from Matthew presents two key moments: Jesus’ prediction of His own death and resurrection, and the story of the temple tax. The first part reminds us of the profound mystery of Jesus’ mission and the sacrifice He would undertake for our salvation. The second part, where Jesus provides the temple tax through a miraculous catch of fish, shows His divine authority and His willingness to submit to the laws of His time, even though He is the Son of God. This teaches us about trust in God’s providence and the importance of living in harmony with the community, even when we may feel exempt.
Together, these readings call us to a life of faith, trust, and love. Like the Israelites, we are called to love God and care for those on the margins. Like Peter, we are invited to trust in God’s providence, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. And like Jesus, we are reminded that our ultimate hope lies in His resurrection and the promise of eternal life. Let us strive to live out these lessons in our daily lives, trusting in God’s plan and loving Him and others with our whole hearts.