Daily Readings - Mon Aug 19 2019
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
In today's readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God. The first reading from Judges recounts the cyclical pattern of the Israelites' disobedience, their subsequent suffering, and God's merciful deliverance through judges. This passage highlights the recurring theme of sin, repentance, and redemption in the history of God's people. The Israelites' turning away from God to serve idols reflects a deeper human tendency to seek comfort and security in fleeting earthly things rather than in the eternal and unchanging God.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a young man who approaches Jesus, seeking eternal life. Jesus responds by listing the commandments, emphasizing the importance of moral living. When the young man claims to have kept all these commandments, Jesus challenges him to go further: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. This exchange underscores the idea that while outward obedience to the law is necessary, true discipleship requires a radical commitment to God above all else. The young man's sadness reveals the difficulty of letting go of worldly attachments, even for one who has lived a virtuous life.
These readings together invite us to examine our own lives. Like the Israelites, we may find ourselves in cycles of sin and repentance, yet God remains faithful and merciful. Like the rich young man, we may outwardly follow the rules but struggle with deeper surrender. The moral lesson here is clear: following God demands more than superficial obedience; it requires a willingness to let go of everything that hinders our relationship with him. True freedom and fulfillment come not from clinging to earthly possessions or comforts but from trusting in God's providence and living with hearts fully surrendered to his will. Let us prayerfully consider where we may be holding back and ask for the grace to follow Jesus more wholeheartedly.