Daily Readings - Mon Aug 21 2017
Judges
11And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.12And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.13They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.14So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.15Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.16Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.17Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.18Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.19But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
Matthew
16And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."18He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,19Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."20The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Sermon
The first reading from the Book of Judges describes a cycle of sin, repentance, and deliverance among the Israelites. Despite God’s faithfulness and the miracles of their liberation from Egypt, the people repeatedly turned away from the Lord to serve foreign gods. This idolatry provoked God’s anger, leading to their oppression by enemies. Yet, in his mercy, God raised up judges to rescue them, only for the cycle to repeat itself after each judge’s death. The passage reveals the stubbornness of the human heart and the constant need for conversion.
In the Gospel, Jesus encounters a young man who asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus lists several commandments, and the young man claims to have kept them all. Yet, when Jesus invites him to sell his possessions and follow him, the young man walks away sorrowfully, unable to part with his wealth. This exchange highlights the challenge of detachment and the ultimate test of discipleship: whether we are willing to let go of earthly attachments to follow Christ fully.
Both readings invite us to examine our own hearts and lives. Like the Israelites, we often turn to false idols—whether wealth, power, or comfort—instead of trusting in God’s providence. Like the rich young man, we may keep the commandments outwardly but struggle with inward attachment to the things of this world. The readings call us to radical conversion: to let go of what holds us back, to trust in God’s mercy, and to follow him with undivided hearts. True freedom and eternal life are found not in possessions or fleeting pleasures, but in surrendering everything to Christ.