Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 19, 2022
First Reading: Ezekiel 37.1-14
1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.2And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.3And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."4Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.5Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."7So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.8And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.9Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.11Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.'12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.13And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."
Psalm 107
1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble3and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.4Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;5hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.6Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.7He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.8Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!9For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,11for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.12So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.13Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.15Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!16For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.17Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;18they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.19Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.20He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.21Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!22And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!23Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;24they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.25For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.26They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;27they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.28Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.29He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.30Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.31Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!32Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.33He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,34a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.35He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.36And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;37they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.38By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.39When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,40he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;41but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.42The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.43Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 22.34-40
34But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.35And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.36"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"37And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the great and first commandment.39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful metaphors and teachings that guide us toward a deeper understanding of spiritual life and love. Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones paints a vivid picture of despair and hopelessness, yet it is transformed by the promise of God's Spirit. The bones, once lifeless, are rejuvenated through prophecy and the breath of life, symbolizing the restoration of Israel. This vision reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God's Spirit can bring renewal and hope.
In the Gospel, Jesus simplifies the essence of the law into two commandments: loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves. These teachings are not just rules but the foundation of a life lived in harmony with God and others. Just as Ezekiel's dry bones needed the Spirit to come to life, our spiritual lives are enlivened by embracing these commandments. Love becomes the breath that animates our faith, transforming us from being spiritually lifeless to vibrant followers of Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we can embody this life-giving love in our daily lives. May we allow the Spirit to move through us, bringing life to those around us through acts of love and compassion. Just as God restored Israel, may we find restoration in our own lives by living out the commandments of love, thereby fostering a community that reflects the vibrant life of the Spirit.