Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 6, 2020
First Reading: Ezekiel 33.7-9
7"So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.8If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.9But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
Psalm 95
1Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.5The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!7For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,8do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways."11Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."
Second Reading: Romans 13.8-10
8Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.9The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Gospel: Matthew 18.15-20
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 explore themes of responsibility, love, and community. Ezekiel is called as a watchman, tasked with warning the people of Israel, emphasizing the importance of speaking up to save others from sin. The consequences of not fulfilling this duty are severe, highlighting the weight of responsibility. In Romans, Paul explains that love is the essence of the law, encompassing all commandments and doing no harm. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment to the well-being of others. The Gospel from Matthew outlines a process for correcting a brother who has sinned, emphasizing patience, community involvement, and the power of collective prayer, with Jesus present in gatherings of two or three.
These readings connect through the thread of love as action. Ezekiel's role as a watchman is an act of love, urging others to turn from sin. Paul's message in Romans underscores that love is the fulfillment of the law, guiding our interactions with others. Matthew's instruction on correction is rooted in loving concern for a brother's spiritual well-being, using community and prayer to restore relationships.
In daily life, these teachings call us to be mindful of our influence on others, to act with love, and to engage with our community in supportive ways. We are reminded that love is not passive but active, involving correction and care. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is lived through responsible action and loving service to others, reflecting God's presence in our midst.