Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 16, 2017
First Reading: Deuteronomy 34.1-12
1Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan,2all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea,3the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.4And the LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your offspring.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there."5So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD,6and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.7Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.8And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.9And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.10And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,11none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,12and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Psalm 66
1Shout for joy to God, all the earth;2sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!3Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.4All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah5Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.6He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,7who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations--let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah8Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,9who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.10For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.11You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs;12you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.13I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you,14that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.15I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah16Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.17I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.19But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.20Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Gospel: Matthew 18.15-20
15"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we reflect on the themes of leadership, transition, and community, woven together by the thread of faith and obedience. The first reading from Deuteronomy brings us to the end of Moses’ journey, as he stands on Mount Nebo, gazing upon the Promised Land he would not enter. This moment is both a celebration of Moses’ faithfulness and a poignant reminder of the human condition—our limitations and the trust we must place in God’s plan. Moses, the great leader, dies in obedience to God’s will, and the mantle of leadership passes to Joshua, who is filled with the spirit of wisdom. This transition reminds us that while individuals may fade, God’s work continues through others.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to the dynamics of community life. Jesus teaches us how to handle conflicts with love and justice, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation and the role of the community in maintaining harmony. The process of correcting a brother privately, then with witnesses, and finally involving the Church, reflects a deep respect for the dignity of each person and the need for accountability. Jesus also reminds us of the power of prayer and agreement in community, assuring us that when two or three gather in His name, He is present among them. This teaching invites us to see our relationships and conflicts as opportunities to grow in holiness and to seek God’s will together.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are called to embrace both the humility of leadership and the responsibility of community. Like Moses, we must trust in God’s plan, even when we do not see the full picture. Like Joshua, we must step forward with courage, relying on the wisdom and grace God provides. And like the disciples, we must approach conflicts with love and seek reconciliation, remembering that our unity is a testament to God’s presence among us. Let us strive to live as people of faith, trusting in God’s plan, seeking harmony in our relationships, and gathering in prayer, knowing that Christ is always with us.