Daily Readings - Tue Aug 20 2024
Ezekiel
1The word of the LORD came to me:2"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god--3you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you;4by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;5by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth--6therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you make your heart like the heart of a god,7therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.8They shall thrust you down into the pit, and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.9Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?10You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD."
Matthew
23And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"26But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."27Then Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"28Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful lessons about pride, humility, and the ultimate trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Ezekiel speaks of the king of Tyre, who, seduced by his own power and wisdom, claims to be like God. His downfall is inevitable, for God will not tolerate such arrogance. This passage reminds us that pride goes before destruction, and our hearts must always remain humble before the Lord.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples with a hard truth: wealth and earthly possessions can be a significant obstacle to entering the kingdom of heaven. It is not that wealth itself is evil, but rather the attachment to it and the false sense of security it can create. Jesus emphasizes that salvation is not about what we have, but about trusting in God’s power and living with detachment. Peter, reflecting on the sacrifices he and the other disciples have made, asks about their reward. Jesus assures them that those who follow him with generosity and humility will receive a hundredfold in this life and eternal life in the next.
These readings call us to examine our own hearts and lives. Do we, like the king of Tyre, allow pride to cloud our vision of God’s sovereignty? Or do we, like the disciples, seek to follow Jesus with humility and trust? Let us remember that true greatness in God’s eyes is found in humility, detachment, and a willingness to surrender all for the sake of the kingdom. May we strive to live in such a way that our hearts remain open to God’s will, and may we always trust in His promise that with Him, all things are possible.