Daily Readings - Mon Mar 10 2025
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
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound connection between our faith and our actions. The first reading from Leviticus calls us to holiness, emphasizing the importance of justice, honesty, and compassion in our dealings with others. It warns against oppression, deceit, and indifference, urging us instead to love our neighbors as ourselves. This ancient law is not just a set of rules but a blueprint for living as God’s holy people, reflecting His character in our daily lives.
The Gospel from Matthew expands on this theme, presenting a vivid picture of the final judgment. Jesus separates the sheep from the goats based on how they treated the most vulnerable—the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Those who served the least among them are welcomed into eternal life, while those who neglected them are turned away. This parable makes clear that our faith is not just about belief but about how we put that belief into practice through acts of love and mercy.
Both readings remind us that our relationship with God is inextricably linked to our relationship with others. They challenge us to examine how we treat those around us, especially those who are marginalized or overlooked. In our daily lives, we are called to recognize Christ in every person we meet and to serve Him by serving them. Let us strive to live out our faith with compassion, justice, and love, knowing that in doing so, we are not only fulfilling the law but also preparing our hearts for eternal life with God.