Daily Readings - Mon Feb 27 2023
Leviticus
1And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,2"Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.11"You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.12You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.13"You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.14You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.15"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.17"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Matthew
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the profound connection between holiness and compassion. In the first reading from Leviticus, God calls the Israelites to live as His holy people by avoiding sin and injustice. He commands them not to steal, lie, or oppress others, emphasizing the importance of treating neighbors with justice and respect. This passage is part of the Holiness Code, a set of laws that guide the Israelites in living as a people set apart for God. The heart of these laws is not just ritual purity but a way of life that reflects God’s character—holy, just, and merciful.
In the Gospel, Jesus paints a vivid picture of the Final Judgment, where nations are separated like sheep and goats. The criterion for judgment is not religious observance or knowledge but how people treated the most vulnerable: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Those who served the least among them served Jesus Himself, while those who ignored them rejected Jesus. This passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He emphasizes that true faith is demonstrated in actions of love and compassion. The surprising twist is that many will be unaware that their care for the marginalized was care for Christ.
These readings together call us to reflect on how we live out our faith. Holiness is not just about avoiding sin; it is about actively loving and serving others, especially those in need. In our daily lives, we are invited to see Christ in the faces of those around us—perhaps in a neighbor who feels lonely, a coworker who is struggling, or someone in our community who is overlooked. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is measured by our love and compassion. Let us ask ourselves today: How can I serve Christ in the people I encounter? How can I live in a way that reflects God’s holiness and mercy? May we strive to be holy by loving and serving others, for in doing so, we love and serve the Lord Himself.