Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 13, 2020
First Reading: Ezekiel 12.1-16
1The word of the LORD came to me:2"Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.3As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.4You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile.5In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it.6In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel."7And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.8In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:9"Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, 'What are you doing?'10Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.'11Say, 'I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.'12And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes.13And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there.14And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them.15And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.16But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the LORD."
Psalm 78
1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,3things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.4We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.5He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,7so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;8and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.9The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle.10They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.11They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.12In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.13He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.14In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.15He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.16He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.17Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.18They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.19They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?20He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?"21Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel,22because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.23Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven,24and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.25Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;27he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;28he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.29And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.30But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths,31the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel.32In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.33So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.34When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly.35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.36But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.37Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.38Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.39He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!41They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.42They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,43when he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.44He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams.45He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.46He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labor to the locust.47He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.48He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts.49He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.50He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague.51He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.52Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.53He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.54And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won.55He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.56Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies,57but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow.58For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.59When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel.60He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind,61and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe.62He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage.63Fire devoured their young men, and their young women had no marriage song.64Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine.66And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame.67He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,68but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.69He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.70He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;71from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.72With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.
Gospel: Matthew 18.21 – 19.1
21Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.32Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
1Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about God's mercy and judgment. Ezekiel's prophetic actions symbolize the exile of Israel's leaders, using symbols like baggage and walls to depict their impending removal. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of rebellion against God. In Matthew, Jesus emphasizes unlimited forgiveness through the parable of the unforgiving servant, highlighting the necessity of extending mercy as we have received it.
Both readings underscore the balance between God's judgment and mercy. Ezekiel's message is set against a backdrop of rebellion, illustrating God's judgment on those who refuse to repent. Conversely, Matthew's parable shows the consequences of failing to extend forgiveness, reflecting the mercy God has shown us. Together, they call us to live as symbols of God's love, mindful of our actions and their impact.
In our daily lives, we are challenged to embody this balance. We must extend forgiveness freely, just as we have been forgiven, and live with humility and compassion. This call to faithfulness reminds us that our actions have eternal consequences, urging us to reflect God's mercy in all we do.