Daily Readings - Wed Aug 14 2019
Deuteronomy
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.
Matthew
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 encounter two significant moments in the history of God's people, each offering profound insights into leadership, community, and faith. The first reading from Deuteronomy 34:1-12 describes Moses' final moments, where he is shown the Promised Land but does not enter it. This scene marks the end of an era, as Moses, the great leader, passes on, and Joshua takes up the mantle, guided by the wisdom imparted by Moses. The Israelites mourn Moses, acknowledging his pivotal role, yet they also look forward under Joshua's leadership.
The Gospel from Matthew 18:15-20 shifts focus to Jesus' teachings on conflict resolution and community dynamics. Jesus outlines a structured approach to addressing sins within the community: starting privately, then involving a few others, and finally the whole Church. This process emphasizes reconciliation and the binding authority of communal decisions. Jesus also assures that where two or three gather in His name, He is present, highlighting the sacred nature of communal gatherings.
These readings remind us of the importance of community and reconciliation in our daily lives. Just as Moses trusted God's plan despite not entering the Promised Land, we must trust in God's larger plan, even when our own roles seem limited. The structured approach to conflict resolution in the Gospel encourages us to seek reconciliation and value collective wisdom. Ultimately, the moral lesson is clear: our faith journey is not solitary but communal, and we are called to live in harmony, guided by God's presence among us.