Daily Readings - Tue Aug 09 2022
Ezekiel
8"But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."9And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.10And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
1And he said to me, "Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.3And he said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.4And he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.
Matthew
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them3and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,10"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages from Ezekiel and Matthew, each offering insights into our spiritual journey. Ezekiel's vision of the scroll symbolizes the acceptance of God's message, which, though it may seem bitter at first, becomes sweet as we embrace it. This transformation reminds us that God's word, even when challenging, is a gift that nourishes our souls and compels us to share it with others.
Matthew's Gospel complements this by emphasizing humility and compassion. Jesus uses a child to illustrate the need for humility, teaching us that to enter the kingdom, we must become like little ones—trusting and pure of heart. The parable of the lost sheep underscores God's deep care for each individual, especially the vulnerable, reflecting His desire that none be lost.
These readings connect through themes of mission and compassion. Ezekiel's call to prophesy and Jesus' teachings on humility and care for others remind us of our responsibilities. We are called to embrace our mission with humility, whether it's sharing God's word or caring for those around us. In our daily lives, this means approaching challenges with openness and serving others with love, trusting that God's grace will transform our efforts into something sweet and fruitful.
As we reflect on these readings, let us embrace our roles with humility and compassion, remembering that each person is cherished by God. May we, like Ezekiel, receive God's message with openness and, like the Good Shepherd, care for every lost sheep, trusting in God's transformative power.