Daily Readings - Tue Aug 13 2024
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, Ezekiel is called by God to prophesy to the Israelites, symbolizing his mission through the act of eating a scroll. This act represents accepting God's message and the responsibility to share it, despite the challenges he may face. In Matthew, Jesus teaches the importance of humility and care for the vulnerable, using a child as an example. He emphasizes that humility is key to entering the kingdom of heaven and that each person is precious to God, much like a shepherd seeking a lost sheep.
Both readings highlight themes of humility and care. Ezekiel's call reflects the humility required to serve God, while Matthew's lesson underscores the value of each individual. The shepherd's dedication to finding the lost sheep illustrates God's love and concern for all people.
Applying these teachings to daily life, we are reminded to approach life with humility and compassion. We should value every person, especially the vulnerable, and strive to bring them closer to God. The moral lesson is clear: true greatness lies in humility and selfless care for others, reflecting God's love in our actions.