Daily Readings - Sat Aug 14 2021
Joshua
14"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.15And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."16Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,17for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.18And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."19But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.20If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good."21And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."22Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses."23He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."24And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.26And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.27And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."28So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.29After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of commitment, humility, and the sincerity of our relationship with God. The first reading from Joshua presents a pivotal moment in the history of the Israelites. Having entered the Promised Land, Joshua calls the people to renew their covenant with God. He challenges them to make a conscious choice to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, rejecting the idols of their past. Joshua’s words are both a warning and an invitation: to recognize the holiness and jealousy of God, who demands our undivided loyalty. The people, moved by the memory of God’s faithfulness, commit themselves to serve the Lord, and Joshua seals this covenant with a stone of witness.
In the Gospel, we encounter a different kind of moment. Jesus is approached by parents seeking his blessing for their children. While the disciples try to dismiss them, Jesus insists that the children come to him. He declares that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these little ones—humble, trusting, and unencumbered by the complexities of adulthood. This scene reminds us that our relationship with God is not about power or status but about simplicity, openness, and a childlike dependence on Him.
These readings are connected by the theme of wholehearted commitment to God. Joshua calls the people to reject idols and serve the Lord sincerely, while Jesus teaches us that humility and childlike faith are essential for entering the kingdom. Together, they invite us to examine our own hearts and lives. Are we allowing anything—whether it be pride, distractions, or worldly attachments—to come between us and God? Do we approach Him with the humility and trust of a child?
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: What are the “idols” in our lives that compete for our allegiance? How can we, like Joshua and the Israelites, renew our commitment to serve the Lord with sincerity? And how can we cultivate the humility and openness of children in our relationship with God? May we, like the people at Shechem, choose today whom we will serve, and may we, like the children in the Gospel, find the kingdom of heaven in our midst.