Daily Readings - Tue Aug 14 2018
Ezekiel
8"But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."9And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.10And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.3And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.4And he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.
Matthew
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them3and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,10"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
In today's readings, Ezekiel and Matthew present powerful messages about humility, compassion, and God's enduring love. Ezekiel is called by God to consume a scroll filled with lamentations, symbolizing his mission to deliver God's word to the Israelites. Despite the scroll's bitter content, it becomes sweet as honey, illustrating Ezekiel's acceptance of his prophetic role. This act underscores the importance of internalizing God's message and faithfully sharing it, even when challenging.
In Matthew, Jesus emphasizes humility and care for the vulnerable. Using a child as an example, He teaches that becoming like a child—humble and open—is essential to entering the kingdom of heaven. The parable of the lost sheep highlights God's joy in finding the lost, urging us to actively seek out those who have strayed. Both readings reflect God's deep concern for His people, Ezekiel focusing on delivering a message to bring people back to God, and Matthew on caring for each individual, especially the vulnerable.
Applying these teachings to our lives, we are called to embrace humility and compassion. Like Ezekiel, we should be open to God's message and share it with others, even when difficult. Like the Good Shepherd, we must seek out those who are lost, reflecting God's love and care. The moral lesson is clear: humility and compassion are vital for living as followers of Christ, guiding us to care for others and remain faithful to God's will.