Daily Readings - Mon Aug 17 2020
Ezekiel
15The word of the LORD came to me:16"Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.17Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men."18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.19And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?"20Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:21'Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.22And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.23Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another.24Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'
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 profound lessons on faith and surrender. Ezekiel, in the first reading, is called by God to endure the loss of his wife without mourning, serving as a sign to the Israelites of the impending desolation of the Temple. This act symbolizes the people's spiritual exile and their need to recognize their sins. Ezekiel's obedience, despite personal grief, illustrates unwavering trust in God's plan.
In the Gospel, a rich young man seeks eternal life and is told by Jesus to follow the commandments and then to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man's hesitation reveals the struggle between outward righteousness and inner attachment to wealth. This story highlights the challenge of complete surrender to God's will.
These readings remind us to trust in God's providence, even in difficult circumstances, and to examine our attachments. Ezekiel's obedience and the young man's hesitation teach us that true discipleship requires sacrifice and detachment. Let us reflect on our own lives, letting go of what hinders our relationship with God, and trust in His divine plan.