Daily Readings - Mon Aug 16 2021
Judges
11And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.12And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.13They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.14So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.15Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.16Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.17Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.18Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.19But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
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 powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and the world around us. The first reading from Judges describes the Israelites' recurring cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance. Despite God's mercy and the leadership of judges, they repeatedly turn away from Him, embracing idols and suffering the consequences. This narrative highlights the human tendency to forget God's faithfulness and succumb to worldly allurements.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a young man who approaches Jesus, eager to know what he must do to attain eternal life. Jesus outlines the commandments, and the young man claims to have kept them since childhood. Yet, when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and follow Him, he hesitates, burdened by his wealth. This encounter underscores the challenge of detachment from material possessions and the deeper call to follow Christ wholeheartedly.
Both readings relate through the theme of attachment to worldly things. The Israelites in Judges are lured by foreign gods, while the young man in Matthew is held back by his wealth. These stories remind us that our fidelity to God is tested by our willingness to let go of what distracts us from Him. In our daily lives, we may find ourselves attached to various desires or possessions that hinder our full surrender to God's will.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider what holds us back from following Christ more closely. True discipleship requires more than outward obedience; it demands a willingness to release whatever stands in the way of our relationship with God. The moral lesson here is clear: detachment and surrender are essential for a life of deeper faith and commitment. May we, like the judges of old, turn to God with humble hearts, ready to let go and follow Him faithfully.