Daily Readings - Tue Aug 17 2021
Judges
11Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.12And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor."13And Gideon said to him, "Please, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian."14And the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?"15And he said to him, "Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."16And the LORD said to him, "But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man."17And he said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speaks with me.18Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you." And he said, "I will stay till you return."19So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them.20And the angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them." And he did so.21Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.22Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD. And Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face."23But the LORD said to him, "Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die."24Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.
Matthew
23And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"26But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."27Then Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"28Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Judges introduces us to Gideon, a humble and hesitant leader who is called by God through an angel. Despite his feelings of inadequacy, Gideon is assured of God's presence and ultimately trusts in the divine plan, which is confirmed by a miraculous sign. This narrative reminds us that God often chooses the humble and unexpected to fulfill His purposes, encouraging us to embrace our own callings with faith.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents Jesus teaching about the challenges of wealth and the rewards of discipleship. Jesus emphasizes that while human efforts may seem insufficient, with God all things are possible. He then promises abundant rewards to those who follow Him, highlighting the importance of prioritizing spiritual life over material wealth. This teaching invites us to reflect on our values and commitments, urging us to trust in God's providence rather than earthly riches.
Both readings converge on the theme of trust in God. Gideon's story illustrates that our strength comes from God, not our own abilities, while Jesus teaches us to trust in God's plan beyond our material concerns. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace humility and trust, recognizing that our true strength lies in our relationship with God. Let us, therefore, approach life's challenges with faith, knowing that God's grace will guide us, and let us prioritize spiritual wealth, which endures forever.