Daily Readings - Mon Mar 02 2020
Leviticus
1And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,2"Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.11"You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.12You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.13"You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.14You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.15"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.17"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Matthew
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between our faith and our actions. The first reading from Leviticus calls us to holiness, emphasizing the importance of ethical living and treating others with justice and compassion. The commands given to the Israelites—such as not stealing, not lying, and not oppressing others—serve as a blueprint for living a life that reflects God’s holiness. These instructions are not just about individual morality but about fostering a community where everyone is valued and respected. The reading challenges us to examine our daily interactions and ensure that our words and actions align with God’s command to “be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
The Gospel from Matthew expands on this theme, presenting a vivid image of the final judgment. Jesus separates people into two groups: the sheep who served the hungry, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned, and the goats who neglected these vulnerable individuals. The key insight here is that our relationship with God is revealed in how we treat those in need. Jesus identifies himself with the least among us, teaching that even the smallest acts of kindness are acts of love for him. This passage is not about earning salvation through good deeds but about recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through compassion and service to others.
Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in tangible ways. The commands in Leviticus and the parable in Matthew call us to be attentive to the needs of those around us and to act with love and justice. In our daily lives, this might mean volunteering, advocating for the marginalized, or simply being present for a neighbor in need. The moral lesson is clear: our relationship with God is not just about what we believe but about how we live out those beliefs in service to others. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I treating those around me? Am I seeing Christ in the faces of those I encounter? May we strive to live with the holiness and compassion that God calls us to, knowing that our actions have eternal significance.