Daily Readings - Mon Aug 19 2024
Ezekiel
15The word of the LORD came to me:16"Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.17Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men."18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.19And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?"20Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:21'Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.22And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.23Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another.24Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound stories that invite us to reflect on faith, sacrifice, and the call to follow God wholeheartedly. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a striking scene where the prophet is commanded by God not to mourn the death of his wife. This was not just a personal tragedy but a symbolic act meant to convey a message to the people of Israel. Ezekiel’s wife was the “desire of his eyes,” and her sudden loss was a sign of the devastating losses Israel would soon face—losses that would leave them without their temple, their children, and their sense of security. Ezekiel’s obedience to God’s command, despite his grief, becomes a powerful lesson in trust and faith. He is called to embody the suffering of his people and to point them to the ultimate truth: that sin has consequences, but God’s judgment is always an invitation to repentance and restoration.
In the Gospel, we meet a young man who approaches Jesus with a question about eternal life. He is wealthy and has kept the commandments since childhood, but when Jesus asks him to sell his possessions and follow him, he hesitates. This story is not just about wealth; it’s about the human heart’s tendency to cling to what is familiar and comfortable. The young man’s sadness reveals the depth of his attachment to his possessions and the security they represent. Jesus is not condemning wealth itself but inviting the young man—and us—to examine where our true treasure lies. The call to follow Jesus is a call to radical love and trust, one that requires us to let go of anything that holds us back from living fully for God.
Both readings challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are there things in our lives that we hold onto so tightly that they prevent us from following God more freely? Ezekiel’s story reminds us that faith often requires sacrifice and trust in God’s plan, even when it’s difficult to understand. The rich young man’s story invites us to consider where our hearts are rooted—whether in the fleeting comforts of this world or in the eternal promises of God. Let us ask ourselves: What is the “treasure” we are clinging to? What is the “desire of our eyes” that we may need to surrender? In letting go, we open ourselves to the possibility of a deeper relationship with God and a life lived in true freedom and joy.