Daily Readings - Mon Aug 21 2023
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the human condition and our relationship with God. In the first reading from Judges, we see the recurring pattern of the Israelites turning away from God to follow false idols and foreign gods. This infidelity leads to their downfall, as God allows them to be oppressed by their enemies. Yet, in his mercy, God raises up judges to rescue them, only for the cycle to repeat itself after each judge’s death. This passage reminds us of the consequences of spiritual infidelity and the importance of remaining faithful to God’s covenant.
In the Gospel, we encounter a young man who approaches Jesus, seeking eternal life. Jesus lists the commandments, emphasizing the importance of living a morally upright life. The young man claims to have kept all these commandments since childhood, but Jesus challenges him further: to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. The young man, attached to his wealth, walks away sorrowfully. This encounter highlights the difficulty of letting go of worldly attachments and the radical commitment required to follow Christ.
Both readings call us to examine our own lives. Like the Israelites, we may often turn to false idols—whether material possessions, comfort, or other distractions—that pull us away from God. Like the rich young man, we may think we are living virtuous lives, but we are called to go further, to let go of whatever hinders our relationship with God. True freedom and happiness come not from wealth or possessions but from wholehearted devotion to God. Let us ask ourselves: What are the “possessions” in our lives that keep us from following Christ more closely? May we trust in God’s promise of eternal life and have the courage to let go, that we might find true treasure in heaven.